'Half the peloton is ill' – manure blamed as riders fall ill ahead of Giro d'Italia, creating drama for some teams

A significant number of riders have fallen ill ahead of the Giro d'Italia, with at least one team forced to alter its lineup shortly before the race’s start. The illness is suspected to have originated from bacterial contamination linked to cow manure on the rural roads of Belgium, where the Famenne Ardenne Classic took place last weekend. Several cyclists who competed in that race, including key contenders expected to feature in the Giro, have experienced symptoms such as stomach pains, diarrhoea, fever, and vomiting, leading to hospitalisations and withdrawals. The Belgian team Lotto–Intermarche has been particularly affected, with only five of their eight riders present at the Giro’s race presentation in Bulgaria. Three riders from the squad were hospitalised, prompting the team to replace Belgian rider Liam Slock with 22-year-old British professional Joshua Giddings. The illness is believed to be caused by campylobacter, a bacterium commonly found in cow dung, which can cause gastrointestinal infections lasting up to ten days—potentially jeopardising the fitness and participation of those affected in the demanding 21-stage race. Among the most notable riders impacted is Arnaud De Lie, the 24-year-old Belgian who won the Famenne Ardenne Classic and was expected to lead Lotto’s Giro campaign. Although he initially appeared to have avoided infection, De Lie fell ill during the flight to Bulgaria. While the team remains cautiously optimistic about his ability to compete, Lotto Intermarché’s sporting director Maxime Bouet suggested a broader issue, stating that “half the peloton is ill,” highlighting the widespread nature of the problem across multiple teams. Other squads, including Alpecin, have also reported riders suffering from the illness, with some teams reportedly hospitalising entire groups of riders. The outbreak has introduced an unexpected layer of drama and uncertainty to the Giro d’Italia, which begins on 7 May. The situation underscores the vulnerability of professional cyclists to environmental hazards and raises concerns about the potential impact on race dynamics and team strategies in the coming weeks.