Timon Seubert has to withdraw from the Giro during the Queens stage
Timon Seubert had to withdraw from the race during the Queens stage from Caldes/Val di Sole to Passo dello Stelvio, due to illness. The remaining members of Team NetApp were unable to obtain a decisive position; Thomas De Gendt (Vacansoleil) triumphed after 219 kilometers as a soloist, leaving Damiano Cunego (Lampre) and Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Euskaltel) behind.
There is no change to the top positions in the overall standing on the penultimate day of the Giro d’Italia, Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Katusha) still leads in front of Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) and Michele Scarponi (Lampre). With 64th place, Jan Barta is the best-placed NetApp rider in the general classification.
“Timon had a fever this morning, but still wanted to give it a try. But the stages were just too difficult, and he retired from the race at the feeding zone”, said Sport Director Jens Heppner.
The rest of the team were also close to their physical limits today, but they put up a fight. Seven riders made it to Milan, and all of them can be very proud of their performance”, added Heppner.
The Giro d’Italia comes to an end in Milan tomorrow with individual time trials. The course is 30 kilometers long and most of it is on relatively wide roads. Only the last few kilometers include some really tight hairpin bends. “From a technical perspective, the course is only marginally demanding. But the decisive factor will be the physical condition of the riders after three hard weeks of racing”, according to the Sport Director.
stage 20, 26 May: Caldes/Val di Sole - Passo dello Stelvio, 219 km
stage 21, 27 May: ITT Milano - Milano, 30.1 km
