Following their triumphs at the Giro d’Italia, tragedy struck Lidl-Trek during stage fourteen when they encountered collective misfortune due to crashes on treacherous roads near the Italian-Slovenian frontier. Star rider Giulio Ciccone suffered significant injuries as a result of this incident and was forced to withdraw from the race, leaving him unable to continue competing for the general classification title.
On a treacherous road, Antonio Tiberi crashed first for Bahrain Victorious, bringing down the whole Lidl-Trek squad with him. Pedersen managed to recover relatively fast, whereas Vacek and Hoole stayed on the ground much longer. Their team captain, Ciccone, got back on his bicycle but ultimately had to cease racing because of severe discomfort. He was subsequently transported to the medical facility post-stage.
Ultimately, the rider from Italy went back to his bicycle to evaluate the extent of the damage at the conclusion. Alongside his team members, he crossed the line 16 minutes after the leaders. Hoole offered a concise response afterward.
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after the race. “Really bad. Ciccone’s GC is gone, and everyone except Carlos Verona has crashed. We rode like crazy, and there were a few slippery corners on cobblestones.”
The Dutchman stated, ‘We had five of our team members within the first fifteen spots, but then Tiberi dropped out, causing others to follow suit.’ He added, ‘Ciccone struggled with an issue related to his leg, which didn’t help matters.’
Mads Pedersen, who leads the points classification, was required to do a quick interview. He said, “Ciccone has lost his general classification hopes here, and we didn’t manage to fight for the stage victory, but cycling is all about highs and lows. It’s just part of the sport. Personally, I’m dealing with some knee issues as well, but we’ll have to wait and see how things progress.”
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Ciccone needs to take a break for two weeks.
That same evening, Lidl-Trek disclosed that, as expected, Ciccone wouldn’t be able to finish the Giro. Imaging tests showed he had sustained a significant bruise in the vastus lateralis muscle of his right thigh along with a slight tear in the surrounding tissue. While surgery isn’t required, Ciccone needs approximately two weeks of rest.
“I am speechless,” stated the Italian. “I attempted to push through to complete the stage, as I was hoping that the medical examinations at the hospital might reveal it wasn’t severe and that I’d be able to recuperate and continue competing for victory in a future stage. However, I instantly realized something was seriously wrong due to the intensity of the pain, and now everything makes sense.”
“I’m pained to withdraw from the Giro under these circumstances, particularly since there are more mountain stages ahead, the excellent atmosphere within the team, and my strong standing in the general classification. Now, I require some time for recovery, and then we will have to wait and see what happens for the remainder of the season,” he stated at last.
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