Having been ruled out of the Volta a Catalunya due to stomach issues, more details have emerged of Levi Leipheimer’s condition.
The RadioShack rider had been sitting second overall in the WorldTour race, but spent Saturday night in hospital and was too ill to begin the final stage of the race.
According to his team, the problem was abdominal sub-obstruction. “This is an issue Leipheimer has dealt with for a long time, dating back to his childhood when he was kicked in the stomach by a horse,” it stated. “At that time the injury caused intestinal damage and Levi had to undergo abdominal surgery. This surgery caused adhesions and scar tissue. These adhesions reduced intestinal motility and at one point caused a life-threatening intestinal obstruction during the time Levi raced for team Rabobank.”
It stated that blockages first cause severe abdominal pain and, if the situation persists, a lethal sepsis can develop. “Saturday night Levi had a semi-obstruction. He had a lot of pain and was transferred to the hospital where he stayed overnight for observation. Fortunately the sub-obstruction didn’t turn into an obstruction and he was able to leave the hospital this morning.”
With the American out of the Volta a Catalunay, Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) moved up to second with Dan Martin (Garmin-Cervélo) netting third.
It is not clear when Leipheimer will return to racing.