REGGIO DI CALABRIA, Italy - Portugal cyclist Nuno Ribeiro was thrown off the Giro d'Italia after failing a routine blood test on Thursday.
Ribeiro was the only one of the 198 competitors set to line up for Saturday's start to fail the test.
The 27-year-old, who rides for Spanish outfit Liberty, turned professional in 2000.
05/05/2005 14:28 GMT