It is never easy to try and ride yourself into form in the Worlds greatest, toughest, bike race when you have spent most of the year out with injury. Magnus Backstedt retired from the Tour de France before the final rest day suffering from a cold. The big Swede dug so
deep and well beyond his reserves on the brutal mountain stage to Pla de Beret.

“I’m disappointed of course not to make it to Paris, but for once I’ve made the decision based on what is best for my health. I lost the first half of 2006 to injury and I didn’t want to lose the second half to sickness caused by destroying myself through the Alps” Backstedt said after returning home.

“I missed out on the classics because of the tendon problem with my knee. I have the Hamburg Classic, The Tour of Denmark and the Vuelta coming up and I really want some good results before the end of the season”

After much speculation about his destination for 2007 Backstedt will stay with Liquigas for another year. “Yes I will stay in green next year. I do feel that there are some issues relating to why the team has not had the season they had last year, but we have a great bunch of guys and believe that we can regain that killer attitude of 2005” Backstedt concluded.