Omega Pharma-Lotto rider Leif Hoste abandoned stage 3 of Tirreno-Adriatico after just 20 kilometers. For the past several days he has been suffering with back pain. He is returning home to Belgium tomorrow to seek treatment rather than continuing and risking his season.
Hoste started his cycling career with the Belgian team Vlaanderen 202 in 1998. After just one season he joined Italian team Mapei-Quick Step headed by compatrot Patrick Lefevere. It changed names to Domo-Farm Frites in 2000, where he remained until 2004, when he was lured to the Discovery Channel team of Johan Bruyneel. The chance of becoming a sole team leader for the classics brought him back to the Belgian Predictor-Lotto squad which is now Omega Pharma-Lotto.
Hoste had a lackluster 2009 season. Earlier this year Omega Pharma-Lotto team manager Geert Coeman said that he is looking forward to the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix where he will be supporting teammate Philippe Gilbert.
Hoste’s best result this season is 16th in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. With three second place finishes in the Tour of Flanders (2004, 2006, 2007), he is hoping to regain the form that saw him come close to winning Belgium’s biggest Classic.
Hoste started stage 3 of Tirreno-Adriatico in 158th place, nearly ten minutes behind then race leader Linus Gerdemann [Milram]. It remains to seen how this will affect his preparation for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne