LIVORNO, Italy — The teammates of Wouter Weylandt crossed the finish line side by side and with arms linked at the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday, honoring the cyclist who died in a crash a day earlier.
After a somber day of ceremonial riding, Weylandt’s Leopard-Trek team withdrew from the race, one of pro cycling’s three major tours.
“We simply cannot continue racing given the circumstances,” said Fabian Wegmann, captain of the Luxembourg-based team. “We are professional athletes, but we feel this is the right thing to do.”
The teams observed a minute’s silence at the start of the fourth stage and wore black ribbons on a day in which no points were awarded.
The field rode together with each team taking the lead at intervals of about 6 miles. With about 2 miles to go, overall leader David Millar of Boulder-based Garmin-Cervelo waved the Leopard-Trek team to the front to reach the line first. Instead of a presentation ceremony for the winner, the Leopard-Trek team stood on the podium with Millar and the three other jersey holders to pay their respects after a lone bugler played a solemn tribute.
An autopsy showed he had died of internal injuries and damage to the base of his skull. Coroner Armando Mannucci said the Belgian died on impact and “hadn’t suffered.”
• U.S. authorities are asking European officials for help gather evidence against seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong in a case related to the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Jockey found dead in vehicle
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Michael Baze, who rode Kentucky Derby second- place finisher Nehro to his only victory (Feb. 21 at Oaklawn), was found dead in his vehicle at Churchill Downs.
Baze, a cousin of Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze, was 24.
There were no signs of foul play and the case was being treated as a death investigation.
Footnotes.
Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick were fined $25,000 apiece and put on probation through June 15 by NASCAR for their actions on pit road Saturday night at Darlington Raceway.
• Philadelphia Flyers captain Mike Richards (wrist), goalie Michael Leighton (hip), center Blair Betts (finger), defenseman Andrej Meszaros (wrist) and winger Kris Versteeg (stomach muscle) need offseason surgery. Additionally, forwards Scott Hartnell and Jeff Carter will be evaluated for hip issues.
• Xavier basketball coach Chris Mack received a contract that runs through the 2017-18 season.
• Michigan State offensive lineman David Barrent is forfeiting his final three years of eligibility because of chronic back problems.
• David Nalbandian will miss the French Open after an illness hampered his recovery from a hernia operation and a muscle injury.
• Soccer’s governing body was hit with new corruption allegations when six FIFA executive committee members were accused of receiving or demanding bribes during bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
The Associated Press
