Today we start the second week of the Giro d’Italia, but we will have to do so again with a few riders less.
There was already news that Olav Kooij had to quit on behalf of Visma-Lease a Bike due to illness. But the Dutchman appears not to be the only sick person. Max Kanter of Astana and Ethan Vernon of Israel Premier-Tech and Marius Mayrhofer of Tudor Pro Cycling Team will no longer start for the same reason.
So it turns out that there is a virus floating around in the peloton after all. Previously, Alexey Lutsenko, Florian Lipowitz and Bram Welten also had to retire due to illness. Hopefully things don’t go that bad for Tadej Pogacar. Last Sunday he told me that he had a stuffy nose. However, these signals undoubtedly cause the necessary caution or even fear.
Sadly @EthanVernon22‘s @Tour of Italy ends today as he has to abandon the race through sickness. Get well soon, Ethan!
“𝘐’𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 10. 𝘐 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴… pic.twitter.com/gWL5Fa2B6G
— Israel – Premier Tech (@IsraelPremTech) May 14, 2024
After a couple of days with gastrointestinal problems, Marius Mayrhofer will not take the start of Stage 10 @Tour of Italy
“It’s a shame to leave the race and the team after only 9 days. I will cheer for them from home.”
We wish Marius a prompt recovery!❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/jTg3SvkeSc— Tudor Pro Cycling Team (@TudorProCycling) May 14, 2024
🇮🇹 NEWS: @Tour of Italy
Max Kanter will not start 10th stage due to having acute respiratory viral infection with fever.
Max felt bad during the 9th stage. Team doctor checked him after the race and on rest day, and concluded that he cannot continue racing in #Tour of Italy pic.twitter.com/pcl1jD1NqK
— Astana Qazaqstan Team (@AstanaQazTeam) May 14, 2024
This Giro d’Italia sweeps us through a range of emotions 😃😢. Olav Kooij has developed a fever during the rest day. He is unable to continue. Get well soon, Grand Tour stagewinner 🫶🏼 pic.twitter.com/jOsnU9rJgW
— Team Visma | Lease a Bike (@vismaleaseabike) May 14, 2024
Pog also had a stuffy nose, hopefully it is not serious for most.
— Noah 🚲 (@ForCyclingFans) May 14, 2024
