Riccardo Ricco returns home to Italy after highs and lows at Tour de France

The "Cobra" - as Ricco is nicknamed - won two stages and then was thrown out of the race after failing a doping test Thursday. He spent a night in a French jail and was fired by his Saunier Duval team on Friday.

"My morale went from sky-high to below my feet," Ricco told reporters outside his home in Formigine, near Modena. "It's not easy. A day in prison, sleeping there, it's not ideal. These are situations I wouldn't even wish upon a dog."

Ricco has requested a "B" test and said he would begin gathering together his defense on Monday.

"A ban? Let's see over the next few days how the situation evolves, because in the end the method they adopted doesn't seem 100 per cent certain to me," Ricco said, according to the ANSA news agency. "It's still up in the air."

The head of France's anti-doping agency, Pierre Bordry, said Friday that Ricco tested positive for CERA, or continuous erythropoietin receptor activator, an advanced version of the blood booster EPO.

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JEROBOAM JOY: American rider William Frischkorn showed his emotional side when he rushed to thank his Garmin Chipotle team manager Jonathan Vaughters for an unexpected gift.

As Vaughters was speaking to reporters outside the team bus, Frischkorn ran down the stairs, popped his head out of the door and twice shouted "I love you, man," to Vaughters.

Why? Vaughters had bought Frischkorn a three-litre bottle of red wine that morning for his performances at the Tour de France.

"I bought Will a Jeroboam," Vaughters said. "It was a kind of reward for making it through the Tour."

Asked whether Frischkorn had taken a couple of swigs before Saturday's 14th stage, Vaughters paused for thought.

"A new hydration strategy," he said. "Three liters of red wine."

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SILENCE OVER TIBET: Cadel Evans' Silence-Lotto team director Hendrik Reddant does not share the Australian rider's passion for politics.

The Tour de France leader has started up a charity on his website, selling a variety of "Free Tibet" clothing and with 20 per cent of funds going to help Tibetan students.

Reddant was asked what he thought about it. His answer was short and to the point.

"I am not talking about that with him. That is his decision and his visions," Reddant said. "That's privately for him."

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CAVENDISH TO QUIT?: Team Columbia manager Bob Stapleton thinks Mark Cavendish may quit this year's Tour de France before riders reach the grueling Alps on Sunday.

The British sprint ace, winner of four stages so far, struggled in hot conditions during Saturday's 14th stage, having already complained of tiredness. He may pull out to better prepare for next month's Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

"He is clearly very tired. I think we have to seriously consider him stepping out," Stapleton told Eurosport television. "That's something we need to give full consideration to. It's important for us that he is part of that decision so we'll talk with him when he feels better."

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NOT MY COURSE: Spanish rider Oscar Freire is not looking forward to the Olympics Games road race in Beijing next month, and thinks it is better suited to his rivals.

Freire, who clinched his first win at this year's Tour de France with a sprint finish in Saturday's 14th stage, does not feel confident about the undulating 60-kilometre hilly route.

"It is not really the type of course for me," the three-time world champion said. "It's really for a rider like Alejandro Valverde. Anyway, I hope to do better than Athens (at the 2004 Games) when I fell after the start."

Freire is in a strong position to win the green jersey as best sprinter at this year's Tour. He has 219 points, while Thor Hushovd of Norway has 172 points, and German veteran Erik Zabel has 167.