"He could have ridden top five" - Trek-Segafredo's Sports Director reveals disappointment after covid rules Giulio Ciccone out of the Giro d'Italia

More and more teams' official start lists are being revealed for the Giro d'Italia. One man who won't be there at the start of the race however, will be Giulio Ciccone after a positive covid test ruled him out.

"I already sent him a message this week and he was already very disappointed. He felt it coming himself, I think. The Giro started at his home, he was super motivated," Trek-Segafredo's Sports Director, Steven de Jongh tells In de Leiderstui. "That you have to miss that and see the Giro peloton pass by your front door for a whole week, that's sour."

Ciccone had shown impressive form so far in 2023, with the 3-time former Giro d'Italia stage winner finishing 5th at La Fleche Wallone and Tirreno-Adriatico plus a second-placed finish overall at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.

"A classification in the Giro was not a main ambition with Giulio. If he wants to ride in the top ten, that can also be done by chasing stage victories. But it is a rider who can ride top ten and even top five in a very good Giro, with the form he had. That won't be the case now and that's a shame," de Jongh continues. "If someone is sick, you can't take them with you and the risks are too great. If you bring a rider who is not fit, there can be a line through the rest of the season. That's not wise. The Tour de France? He could, but we want him to recover from this first."