Tour’s doping scandals weigh on riders’ minds

Britain’s Mark Cavendish won his fourth stage.

NIMES, France (AP) — Mark Cavendish wants to talk about his latest stage victory — not doping. British cyclist David Millar pleads with fans: “Please, don’t give up on us.”

This may not be easy. This, after all, is the Tour de France.

Cavendish, a British sprint specialist on Team Columbia, captured the 13th stage Friday — the fourth stage he has won and second in a row.

He prevailed over a 113-mile course on a hot and wind-swept day along the Mediterranean while Cadel Evans of Australia kept the yellow jersey.

The drug use that is battering cycling’s image yet again is starting to weigh on the riders’ minds. But for Italy’s Riccardo Ricco, who tested positive for the blood booster EPO, the consequences could be far more than psychological.

French authorities filed preliminary charges against him Friday. He could face two years in prison if convicted on charges of using toxic substances, a French prosecutor said.

Ricco, who won two stages of this Tour, was fired from his Saunier Duval team Friday, a day after he was kicked out of the race. He is the third rider to be ousted.

After his release from police custody, Ricco made no clear denials. Instead, he defiantly said he wasn’t surprised by the team’s decision to fire him.

“It’s the routine for the teams,” Ricco told Italy’s RAI state TV. “That’s what they have to do. I’ll be back. I’ll be back stronger than before.”

Ricco’s teammate Leonardo Piepoli, who won the 10th stage, was also fired for “violation of the team’s ethical code.” A Saunier Duval spokesman declined to elaborate.

Evans said he cracked jokes with his closest rival, Frank Schleck of Luxembourg, during the ride Thursday after the Ricco bust. The Australian leads Schleck by one second.

“We’re rivals, but in a race like this ... everyone needs friends in a race like this,” Evans said.

Christian Vande Velde of the United States is third, 38 seconds behind. Other riders Evans needs to watch: Denis Menchov of Russia is fifth, 57 seconds back, and Carlos Sastre of Spain is sixth and trails by 1:28.

The race heads for another mostly flat stage today, a trip of more than 116 miles from Nimes to Digne-les-Bains. Then come three grueling stages in the Alps starting Sunday. The race ends July 27 in Paris.