Millar climbs off and heads home from Giro
David Millar (Garmin) pulled out of the Giro d?Italia mid-way through Sunday?s hilly stage from Forli to Faenza.
The Scot had planned to head home after the stage but decided to climb off a little earlier to avoid suffering in the intense 35 degree heat currently baking Italy.
Millar decided to ride the Giro as part of his build-up to the Tour de France after missing most of April due to breaking his collarbone in Paris-Nice. He was rarely in the thick of the action at the Giro but importantly, his season is now back on track and he on schedule to be
at his best for the Tour de France.
"This was my first race back after my surgery and I am pleased with how I have done,? Millar said before heading to Bologna airport for a flight home to Girona in Spain.
?I knew because of my injury I might not have made it to the end, and today's stage was just a little too much for me. But I can leave this race saying I raced hard and well, and that I have felt in good form. I'm proud of the team still there and I'll be rooting for them through Rome."
Millar told Cycling Weekly that he will ride the Dauphine Libere (June 7-14) as his final build-up for the Tour de France.
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Stage reports
Stage 15: Bertagnolli gifted stage win by Cervelo mix-up
Stage 14: Gerrans solos to win
Stage 13: Cavendish takes his third Giro win and prepares to head home
Stage 12: Menchov storms to Giro TT win and race lead
Stage 11: Cavendish romps to second Giro stage win
Stage 10: Di Luca lays down the gauntlet
Giro rest day review (May 18)
Stage nine: Cavendish blitzes rivals to win in Milan
Stage eight: Siutsou makes it two in a row for Columbia-Highroad
Stage seven: Boasson Hagen takes treacherous stage
Stage six: Scarponi wins longest stage with big break
Stage five: Menchov wins mountain battle as Di Luca grabs the pink jersey
Stage four: Di Luca denies Soler on the line; Lovkvist takes pink jersey
Stage three: Cavendish loses pink jersey after being caught behind late crash
Stage two: Petacchi denies Cavendish the stage win
Stage one: Cavendish in pink as Columbia prove their point to Garmin
Photo galleries
News
Millar climbs off and heads home from Giro
Basso discovers he has few friends at the Giro (stage 15)
Froome agonisingly close to stage victory (stage 14)
Cavendish quits the Giro d'Italia
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Cavendish: His most important Giro win yet (stage 13)
Comment: Lance vs the press, some things never change
Menchov's first pink jersey (Stage 12)
Wiggins: 'I went too hard at the start' (Stage 12 TT)
Lance and Levi: Ready for Giro time trial
Cavendish: 'Today brought back memories of San Remo' (stage 11)
Is Di Luca trying too hard, too soon?
Wiggins loses time in the Giro (stage 10)
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Cavendish says 'I'm addicted to winning'
Riders stage go-slow protest during Giro stage in Milan
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Astana riders wear faded kit in protest over unpaid wages
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Cavendish out to topple Garmin in Giro team time trial
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Armstrong's special Giro bikes unveiled
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David Millar confirms he's riding in 2009 Giro
Bennati to take on Cavendish in Giro 2009 sprints
2009 Giro d'Italia to start in Venice
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Armstrong to ride 2009 Giro
Tuttosport reveals 2009 Giro d'Italia route
Dolce & Gabbana design new Giro jersey
2009 Giro d'Italia guide and features
Find the pink jersey competition
Giro d'Italia 2009: The Big Preview
British riders to have led the grand tours
CW's Giro top ten prediction
Brits in the Giro 2009
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Cavendish
CW Classic: the 1987 Giro d'Italia
2008 Giro d'Italia archive
Giro d'Italia 2008 coverage index - race reports, photos, results
From rule Britannia to cruel Britannia
Giro 2008: The final word on this year's race
Brits at the 2008 Giro: photo special
Five days to go, what's in store?
Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 27)
Giro d'Italia 2008: Rest day review (May 19)
Giro d'Italia 2008 preview
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