Tour de France start could be in jeopardy
Team Katusha’s Kim Kirchen has pulled out of the Tour de Suisse and been admitted to the hospital after complaining of heart problems at the team’s hotel Friday evening. The former Luxembourg champion had a similar problem during the Flèche Wallonne this spring, a race he won in 2008.
“He felt bad so the team doctor sent him to hospital,” explained sports director Serge Parsani.
“He already had a similar kind of problem two or three months ago. We don’t know [what the problem is].”
Kirchen won a stage and finished second overall in the 2007 Tour de Suisse, and took home another stage win in the event last year. He’s been twice the champion of Luxembourg on both the road and in the time trial. Kirchen finished 7th overall in the Tour de France in both 2007 and 2008, and wore the maillot juane for four days during the 2008 edition.