Breschel quits Paris-Roubaix with 'serious' knee problem

Dane Matti Breschel headed into the Paris-Roubaix race today in France as one of Saxo Bank's cards to play for victory, but he ended in the race in the team car with a "serious" knee problem.

"I had problems since Scheldeprijs Wednesday, but not serious problems and I could still train.  I had to ride in the car during the reconnaissance we did on the course Thursday so I would not push it too much.   I did a long day of training on Friday, but something wasn't right."

Breschel started today's 259-kilometre race regardless, but he felt pain immediately and 52.9 kilometres over France's worst cobbled roads did not help his right knee.   

"I was there to try to make it on the podium and then I had hoped to help Fabian [Cancellara] at least.  In the end, though, I had to finish the last 20K of the race in the car.

"There is some kind of infection in my knee I think.  For the moment it feels pretty serious and I can't even stand on it."

Cancellara won the race ahead of Thor Hushovd (Cervélo TestTeam) and Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky).    

Breschel said that his plan is to stay with the team in Belgium or travel home to Denmark to have a scan on his knee in the coming days.

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