Tour of Belgium and Denis Menchov

[deniska]

Hi,
today is the first stage of Tour of Belgium 2010, I was very happy that Denis Menchov will participate.

But in Live Ticker is written:

111km - Abandon de Denis Menchov. De mauvaise augure pour le Russe en vue du Tour de France. Rabobank perd là un pion important

Can somebody translate this? I think it is french, google translator didn't help me...

And maybe somebody have more information what happened?

 

[theyoungest]

He abandoned the race. He's returning from illness (bronchitis) and apparently he's not fully race fit yet.

 

[josekaubeda]

"Menchov leaves the race. Bad precedent for the Russian facing TdF. Rabobank loses there an important domestique."

Seems Menchov lost contact with the pack in the middle of the stage.