Injured Larrinaga out for weekend races

Cyclo-cross rider Javier Ruíz de Larrinaga, dominant on the domestic scene so far, has been ruled out of the upcoming races this weekend due to the knee injury sustained in Muskiz last Sunday, but it's not expected to keep him out of play for long.

The Amezaga-born MMR-Spiuk rider was forced to abandon the Superprestigio event in Muskiz the past weekend when riding strongly in third position, injuring his left knee on the penultimate round. While he's set for a more extensive check-up on Thursday morning, a visit to the USP Mediplan Sport in Vitoria yesterday revealed no serious damage. No broken bones or damaged ligaments were discovered, though an annoying meniscus is likely to result in a DNS in Arbulo on Saturday and in the Superprestigio-ranked race in Elorrio on Sunday.

"Likely, unless we get positively surprised, the races in Arbulo and Elorria are discarded - and with them the overall Superprestigio ranking",  he said on his website. "Fortunately, though, this has happened in November, which after all is better than December or January".

Photo: Noticias de Álava