Amazement on the 13th stage of the Tour of Italy, with the surprise abandonment of Romain Bardet confirmed by the race organization, at the start of Friday afternoon during the 13th stage between San Remo and Cuneo.
Sick during the night, the French rider from the DSM team would then have suffered a heatstroke which ended his hopes of victory in the Giro 2022.
We are sad to confirm that @romainbardet has abandoned the #Giro.
After becoming sick during yesterday's stage, his condition worsened overnight and despite all efforts, he is no longer in a position to continue the race.
đź’” pic.twitter.com/2ltgLyQuGk
— Team DSM (@TeamDSM) May 20, 2022
“We are sad to confirm this abandonment, communicated 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 race, ”reacted his team.
The 31-year-old runner from Auvergne held on for a hundred kilometers before dismounting and lying on the ground.
Romain Bardet then got into the front of his team's car.
The Frenchman was in fourth place overall, 14 seconds behind the pink jersey, Spaniard Juan Pedro Lopez.
His start to the event promised him serious chances of winning the first Grand Tour of the season.
Second Sunday at the top of the Blockhaus during the 9th stage, the recent winner of the Tour of the Alps had until then shown real ability to compete for the final victory with the favorites, including the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz.