After last year's wound on a hand a few days prior to the race that forced him to cancel, that's another bad luck for Jiri Vondrak who is leaving after only two stages. He was so far doing really good, standing on the 3rd place. Which last as his best result on La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc so far in 2010.

Here is the official release of the race direction:

"This January the 10th in Praz de Lys, the Czech competitor Jiri Vondrak, bib 27, currently third overall, has chosen, after consideration of his dogs and discussion with the chief veterinarian and the race director, to leave before the start of the third stage of La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc. A respiratory infection of viral origin affecting several of his dogs and limiting the ability to have a good post-exercise recovery. Jiri Vondrak preferred to focus on the well being and health of his dogs at the expense of the real possibility for him to be among the best in the race overall. It can only be congratulated for such a decision that destroys months of preparating work for his team."

It's a terrible news for Jiri who has worked really hard these last monts to get ready for the race. La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc 2012 has lost one of his top contender and is sad to see a friend leaving. See you on La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc 2013 Jiri !