Going home

Tour flop Vaughters quits team, returns to U.S.

BEZIERS, France (Reuters) -- American cyclist Jonathan Vaughters has been dropped by the French Credit Agricole team after a poor Tour de France, his team director said Saturday.

"He's struggling to follow the pace of the bunch, who are going too fast for us," said Roger Legeay.

"Jonathan has had enough and has decided to return to the United States to resume his studies and to continue his cycling career in America.

"He accepted to end his contract, which was running until 2003," Legeay added.

A former teammate of three-times Tour champion Lance Armstrong, Vaughters had been seen as one of cycling's great hopes after winning two time trials, including one up Mount Ventoux, in the Dauphine Libere race in 1999 and 2001.

But he never quite made it as a leader and was forced out of this year's Tour when he crashed in the Aubisque pass Thursday.

Team director Lefevere leaves Domo Farm Frites

BEZIERS, France (Reuters) -- Belgian Patrick Lefevere, team director and founder of the Domo Farm Frites cycling team, said Saturday he was quitting.

Lefevere, formerly team director of Mapei, would not comment on the reasons for his departure.

"It's a decision I took a couple of days ago but I won't comment on the reasons for the time being," said Lefevere who set up the team last year.

But he announced he would next be in charge of a new team built around Quickstep, the sponsor which was paired with Mapei, who announced they were pulling out of cycling at the end of the season.

"I don't know if it's me who is returning to Quickstep or Quickstep who are returning to me. But it will be a new structure built around the Quickstep riders," he said.

Lefevere is expected to take with him 11 riders under contract with Mapei and seven Domo Farm Frites riders, including Frenchman Richard Virenque and Belgian former world champion Johan Museeuw.

 

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