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Thursday's EuroFile: Boonen out of world's; CAS to rule on Valverde case

By Agence France Presse
Published: Sep. 20, 2007

Belgian cycling star Tom Boonen has pulled out of the world road race championships due to injuries on his knee and back, the Belgian cycling federation said Thursday.

Quick Step's 2005 world champion has thus been forced to bring the curtain down on what has been a mitigated season by his high standards.

Boonen, who counts the prestigious Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders one-day classics among his many victories, crashed last week during a stage on the Vuelta a España and abandoned the race complaining of back and knee pain.

A fitness test on Thursday confirmed Boonen's worst fears, and while his back is no longer a problem he still has persistent pain in his knee.

The world road championships are held September 26-30, with the men's road race being held on the final day of competition.

CAS to decide Valverde case
The Court of Arbitration for Sport will decided whether Alejandro Valverde can race the world road championships after the UCI agreed Thursday to refer the case to the Lausanne-based body.

The UCI agreed to a request by the Spanish cycling dederation for the CAS to decide on whether Valverde has the right to compete in the championships.

The UCI earlier this month upheld its decision to exclude Valverde because of growing suspicions over his alleged links to the Operación Puerto doping affair in Spain.

The scandal erupted in May 2006 after police raided the premises of Spanish doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, recovering bags of stored blood and banned doping substances.

Valverde has vehemently denied any involvement with the affair, or with Fuentes.

At the world championships last year Paolo Bettini claimed the coveted rainbow jersey ahead of German Erik Zabel, with Valverde finishing third.