And suddenly, the world of Romain Bardet collapsed. Fourth in the general classification of the Giro before the 13th stage leading to Cuneo on Friday, the Frenchman was forced to retire just over 100 kilometers from the finish. Sick, the Team DSM rider had to surrender. According to Rai, he remained on the ground for several minutes, conscious but “heat stroke victim” and stomach pain. After his retirement which occurred about an hour after the start of Sanremo, the Auvergnat, pale-faced, took his place in the passenger seat of his DSM team’s car.
“We are sad to confirm this abandonmentcommunicated his team. Ill during Thursday’s stage, Bardet saw his condition worsen overnight. Despite all his efforts, he is no longer able to continue the raceA huge blow to the head of the Frenchman, at the foot of the general podium with 14 seconds behind the leader Juan Pedro Lopez (Trek-Segafredo) and who harbored a lot of ambition for the future.
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Amazement: Bardet leaves the Giro, sick
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Bardet, 31, had made the Giro his first big goal of the season. He had been present until this summer day, notably taking second place in the queen stage of the Blockhaus, last Sunday, in Abruzzo.
Amazement: Bardet leaves the Giro, sick
His second abandonment in twelve participations in the big tours
“The Giro is not going to be won in the second week, that’s for sure. However, there will be pitfalls. There may be falls, breaks. So there you go, just gotta go day by day and stay in the game“, confided Romain Bardet at the start of the 10th stage. Unfortunately for him, it has just ended in the worst possible way. Bardet’s retirement is his second in twelve participations in the Grand Tours. His only retirement was due to a serious fall which had caused him a head trauma in the Tour de France 2020.
This season, Bardet has multiplied training courses with a view to the Giro and won the Tour des Alpes in April. DSM, which recently extended its two-year contract until the end of 2024, has not yet confirmed its presence in the next Tour de France, although its participation seems logical.
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