"I never give up, but on Sunday it was the only choice” - Warren Barguil hopes not to miss out on his first ever Giro d'Italia

After finishing La Flèche Wallonne in solid 10th spot, Warren Barguil was looking forwards to test his legs on steep hills of Liège-Bastogne-Liège one final time before Giro d'Italia. Instead, his maiden Giro d'Italia is surrounded by question marks.

“On Friday I got a sore throat, which later descended to the bronchi,” says 31-year-old Barguil about his run-up to LBL in an interview for Wielerflits. “From Saturday to Sunday I had a complicated night, but I was focused on my goal. The legs were good, so I thought it would pass.”

That didn't happen. “When I got to the foot of La Redoute, I knew it was going to be tough. I tried to ride through it, but had to stop. My bronchi burned and I coughed. Of course I'm super disappointed, because the legs were good and I normally like that kind of conditions," Warren continues.

Warren Barguil has already ridden the Tour de France eight times and the Vuelta a España four times. The Giro starts this year on Saturday 6 May in Fossacesia Marina with a flat individual time-trial.