More interference for Radioshack as Popovych pulls out

AURILLAC, France, July 12 (Reuters) - Team Radioshack’s Tour de France challenge suffered a further blow on Tuesday when Ukrainian road captain Yaroslav Popovych withdrew before the start of the 10th stage.

“Yaroslav Popovych will not start stage 10 in the Tour de France,” the American team said in a statement.

“Since Sunday, Popovych has had a fever. As the rest day didn’t bring any amelioration, the team decided not to let him start in Aurillac.”

Popovych is the third Radioshack rider to pull out after team leaders Janez Brajkovic and Chris Horner abandoned the race when they sustained injuries following crashes.

German Andreas Kloeden, eighth in the overall general classification, will start the 158-km stage that finishes in Carmaux despite suffering from back pains.