Pieter Serry battling on for Soudal - Quick-Step at the Giro d'Italia: “The atmosphere within the team is now below freezing"

Pieter Serry is one of just three remaining Soudal - Quick-Step riders at the 2023 Giro d'Italia after covid positives have ruled out 5 of the team. Understandably the mood in the riders that are left isn't great.

“The atmosphere within the team is now below freezing," the 34-year-old Belgian, riding in his 15th Grand Tour revealed to Eurosport prior to the start of stage 11. “We are only sitting at the table with three riders. It's really sad. We have really been working on this Giro for months.”

The whole Soudal - Quick-Step had indeed spent months preparing at altitude in order to give Remco Evenepoel the best possible chance of securing the Maglia Rosa. After his initial departure prior to the rest day the remaining riders were forced to refocus their attention. Now though, with only three riders left the chances of any kind of success are vastly reduced.

“It is now very difficult to turn the knob again. Because of the bad weather, you don't really get motivation," Serry continues. "Hopefully it stays that way. We can now go for a stage win.”