Tour de France: Millar's new dispute with team

On the same day that David Millar's team-mate Stuart O'Grady was taking Cofidis's first Tour stage, a fresh rift has opened up between the Scot and his squad.

A meeting between Millar, who confessed to using illegal drugs to police last week, and his Cofidis team did not take place after he argued he had not been informed in time.

Millar, who has already been suspended by the British Cycling Federation over the same affair, communicated via his lawyer at the last minute that he would not be able to put in an appearance.

"There was going to be a meeting prior to Dave being sacked, but he didn't turn up, probably acting on his lawyer's advice," the Cofidis sporting director, Alain Delouil, said.

According to Delouil, a registered letter had been sent to Millar's house in Biarritz summoning the rider.

Millar's agent and sister, Fran, said Millar had not been living in his former residence since he spent two days in police custody two weeks ago, and that it was therefore impossible for him to receive any communication by post. "They could have phoned earlier," she added, "but they didn't."

Having been placed under formal investigation for "possession of suspicious substances," Millar is due for a second interview with the judge Richard Pallain, who is investigating allegations of doping in his Cofidis team, on 20 July.