Red-faced tour chiefs desperate for a clean day

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Italian Riccardo Ricco yesterday became the third rider to be excluded from this year's race after failing a test for the blood-boosting drug EPO. As a result, the entire Saunier Duval team withdrew.

Ricco, 24, had earlier claimed two stage wins and was leading the King of the Mountains category. Today's 182km from Narbonne to Nimes is flat from start to finish and expected to again favour sprinters.

Olympic medal hope Mark Cavendish, who yesterday became the first Brit to win three stages on the Tour, will have to make a rapid recovery if he is to get the better of Spain's Oscar Freire, German Erik Zabel and Belgian Gert Steegmans, all of whom are looking for their first success.

The last sprinter to win four stages on the same Tour was Italy's Alessandro Petacchi in 2003. Petacchi is not taking part in this year because of a drugs ban.