Cow dung-related illnesses from Famenne Ardenne Classic cause Arnaud De Lie to miss the Giro d'Italia team presentation

Who would've thought that Lotto Famenne Ardenne Classic (1.1) taking place last weekend would play a role at the upcoming Giro d'Italia. With just two days before the start, the news of an epidemic within Lotto-Intermarché sparked fear in Bulgaria. According to reports, three riders including the team's leader Arnaud De Lie were affected with Liam Slock forced to withdraw from nomination.

At Lotto-Intermarché, they were still in a celebratory mood on Sunday after Arnaud De Lie's first victory of the season, but by now they will regard the Famenne Ardennes Classic as a shit race.

Arnaud De Lie fell ill few days later. Het Nieuwsblad reports that Milan Menten and Liam Slock also suffered from stomach flu symptoms after the Walloon race. De Lie and Menten are recovering, hopefully just in time for Giro d'Italia despite their absence at team presentation, but for Slock, the Giro ended before it even begun.

Joshua Giddings is his last-minute replacement. Other teams are also reporting many sick riders following last Sunday's race.

A large number of teams involved report that the roads in the Ardennes last Sunday were contaminated in many places with cow dung and tracks from agricultural vehicles. Combined with water splashing up due to rain, many riders reportedly developed symptoms of gastroenteritis afterwards.

Inquiries by WielerFlits reveal that Abram Stockman and Joren Bloem of Unibet Rose Rockets also reported sick following the Famenne Ardennes Classic. The Dutch continental teams METEC-SOLARWATT and BEAT CC p/b Saxo were hit heavily with no less than four absentes, making at a challenge to gather enough riders for their respective upcoming races.

Other teams heading to Giro this week; Alpecin - Premier Tech and Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling currently report no health problems for their riders at Famenne Ardenne Classic. This includes Pinarello Q36.5's duo Matteo Moschetti and Fabio Christen who should be normally at the start line in Nessebar this Friday.