After starting with 176 riders in the Giro d’Italia peloton in Venaria Reale on Saturday, the race has already lost 11 riders ahead of the sixth stage of the gravel challenge across Tuscany. ing. Climbers Florian Lipowitz (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Michael Woods (Israel Premier Tech) are among the latest names to have been forced to abandon the race.
The pair, along with Israeli Premier Tech riders Riley Pickrell and Nadav Reisberg, were listed as DNS for the 180km stage six from Viareggio to Rapolano Terme.
Woods, Raisburg and Pickrell were involved in a crash on Stage 5 from Genoa to Lucca, leaving the trio filling the last spot on the day with 14 minutes remaining.
Reisberg fractured his right triangular bone in the fall and was unable to continue racing. Woods, the team’s mountain stage hunting prospect, suffered road rash and bruises and was later found to be exhibiting “mild concussion symptoms,” the team reported.
“I’m really disappointed to be leaving the Giro d’Italia, but my health has to be my priority,” Woods said. “There are more opportunities this season and I’m motivated for it.”
Woods entered the race with high aspirations of winning the stage. “He hasn’t been to the Giro since 2018, but he wants to win a stage there,” he said. cycling news Back in March. “This is a big goal because then we will have stages in all three Grand Tours.”
“I’m very disappointed. Leaving your first Grand Tour is something no rider wants to do. Hopefully I can get this opportunity again and come back and finish,” Pickrell said in a statement. Ta. Social media.
The young Canadian was given a late start to Thursday morning’s race after Pickrell showed signs of confusion after crashing in the fifth stage and the team announced they were “not willing to risk” a concussion. With the abandonment of the race, Israel Premier Tech will have five riders participating in the race.
The 23-year-old Lipowitz, who put in the best performance of his young career in the recent Tour de Romandie and finished third overall, will also miss Thursday’s race.
The German rider, who was in the midst of making his Grand Tour debut, will miss the race due to illness, the Bora-Hansgrohe team announced.
“Unfortunately, Florian Lipovics will not start today’s stage of the Giro d’Italia due to illness,” the team announced in a social media post. “Heal quickly, Lipo!”
So far, seven names have been on the withdrawal list for this Giro d’Italia, including Woods, Raisburg, and Lipowitz. Robert Gesink (Visma Lease-A-Bike), Eddie Dunbar (Jaco Alura) and Binium Gilmay (Intermarche Wanty) are the big names who returned home in the opening week, but Adrian Petit (Intermarche Wanty) That didn’t happen. He reaches the end of stage 5 due to his illness.
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