Following his withdrawal from the Vuelta a Espana on Wednesday, Irish professional cyclist Philip Deignan has decided to end his season due to a frustrating run of poor health and indifferent results.
The 27-year-old Cervélo Test Team rider has been below par for much of the season and learned prior to the start of the Vuelta that he had a virus; this was treated but he was told that he might not feel better in time for the race.
That’s how things turned out, with the talented Letterkenny rider being far-off the form which earned him a stage win and ninth overall last year.
He indicated yesterday evening that he won’t race again in 2010, preferring instead to work on getting his health fully back to normal. He also needs to find a new team for next season, as the Cervélo squad he is contracted to is to be wound-up.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Roche continues in the race today, sitting in ninth place overall going into stage twelve. He was fourteenth on Wednesday's stage to Andorra.
Deignan to take break until 2011
