Giro, Vande Velde rode the 2013 Tour de France, but withdrew on stage seven due to sustained injuries from stage five. After the Tour de France, Vande Velde attempted to defend his USA Pro Cycling Challenge title, however, he rode a quiet race, and finished twenty-second overall. Vande Velde's strongest performance during the race was on stage five, when he placed ninth in the uphill individual time trial. Vande Velde retired from professional cycling at the conclusion of the 2013 UCI World Team Time Trial Championships. Doping confession In a September 2012, online forum post, Garmin-Sharp team manager and owner Jonathan Vaughters stated that Vande Velde had used blood doping products to increase red blood cell production. On October 10, 2012, it was announced by USADA that he would be suspended for six months for admissions of doping during his time with the US Postal Cycling Team. Later that day a statement was released confirming his acceptance of a six-month ban from September 1, 2012, ending on March 1, 2013, along with a stripping of all race results between June 4, 2004, and April 30, 2006. Vande Velde released his own statement a day later that expressed regret at his decision to "cross the line". "I'm very sorry for the mistakes I made in my past and I know that forgiveness is a lot to ask for. I know that I have to earn it and I will try, every day, to deserve it – as I have, every day, since making the choice to compete clean. I will never give up on this sport, and I will never stop fighting for its future." he said. Personal life Vande Velde currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina with his wife Leah, and their daughters Uma (b. 2008), and Madeline (b. 2009). He is an alumnus of Lemont High School. Career achievements Major results 1999 1st Overall Redlands Bicycle Classic 3rd Overall Four Days of Dunkirk 1st Young rider classification 4th Overall Circuit de la Sarthe 2000 9th Grand Prix Eddy Merckx 2001 4th Overall Three Days of De Panne 5th Overall Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana 2002 1st Stage 1 (TTT) Volta a Catalunya 2004 2005 1st Mountains classification Eneco Tour 2006 1st Overall Tour de Luxembourg 2nd Overall Tour of Elk Grove 9th Overall Tour of California 2007 1st Eindhoven Team Time Trial 2nd Overall Tour de Georgia 6th Overall