Millar sorry after quitting

Scotland's David Millar has apologised to his Cofidis team-mates after dropping out of the Vuelta in protest at the finish line of the dreaded Agliru climb Sunday.

VUELTA: Heras takes overall lead

Twice during the rain-swept stage, Millar fell off his bicycle. Both times he got up and braved the Agliru ascent, with its 23% gradients, in rain, fog, and freezing cold. When he got to the top, Millar dismounted one metre from the finish and turned around. He then ripped his number off and handed it in disgust to organizers. He's reported to have been clipped during the stage by a organizer's race car.

Vuelta organizers considered it a retirement and the Scot is now out of the race. "He chose this stance because of the shockingly dangerous race conditions," Cofidis manager Alain Bondue told French newspaper l'Equipe. "He's realized he made a blunder and is going to excuse himself to the rest of the team."

Millar was ninth overall going into Sunday's stage. Last year, he led the Tour of Spain for three days, winning two stages.

An old path for goat herders, the Angliru climb reguarly triggers the misgivings of riders and team directors. "It's not cycling," protested Spain's Joseba Beloki who's second overall in this year's Vuelta. "You can't just think of the show you're putting on, because many have a hard time making it," the ONCE rider told Spanish newspaper As.

But organizers point to the large TV audiences for the hardest of Vuelta stages. "The Vuelta without l'Agliru is like a 5-kilometre marathon or a 15-minute football match," race director Enrique Franco said on the eve of Sunday's stage.

"It's an inhuman climb," rebutted Kelme's Oscar Sevilla after losing three minutes and the overalll leader's oro jersey on the steep Asturies ascent.