A wave of illness has swept through the professional cycling peloton just days before the start of the Giro d’Italia, with contaminated cow manure on wet roads suspected as the source of the outbreak, according to The Guardian. Several riders expected to feature prominently in the prestigious Grand Tour reportedly became ill after competing in Sunday’s Famenne Ardenne Classic in Belgium.

The primary concern centres around the Belgian team Lotto-Intermarché, whose preparations for the Giro d’Italia, which commences on Friday in Bulgaria, have been significantly disrupted. Three of their riders were briefly hospitalised after experiencing a range of severe symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea
• Fever
• Vomiting

The suspected culprit is Campylobacter, a bacterium known to cause gastrointestinal infections. Investigators believe that wet road conditions during the Famenne Ardenne Classic led to cow excrement being splashed onto the riders, facilitating the spread of the infection.

De Lie’s Giro d’Italia participation in doubt

The situation is particularly concerning for Arnaud De Lie, who won the Famenne Ardenne Classic and is slated to be Lotto-Intermarché’s leader at the Giro. While De Lie initially showed no symptoms, he began to feel nauseous during the flight to Bulgaria. Despite this setback, the team remains hopeful regarding his participation.

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“He’s not feeling well, but his participation in the Giro is not compromised at this stage,” the team said in a statement quoted by The Guardian. However, the extent of the team’s struggles was evident at Wednesday’s race presentation, where only five of Lotto’s eight riders were able to attend.

Widespread impact across the peloton

The illness appears to be more widespread than initially thought, affecting multiple teams. Sporza, the Belgian broadcaster, reported that other outfits, including Alpecin, have also seen their riders fall ill. The scale of the issue was starkly highlighted by Lotto’s sporting director, Maxime Bouet.

“Half the peloton is ill,” Bouet stated, underscoring the significant challenge facing teams as they make their final preparations for one of cycling’s most demanding races. With the Giro d’Italia just hours away, the health of the riders remains a critical concern, casting a shadow over the start of the competition.

Sources: www.theguardian.com

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