Illness in the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe camp: Pellizzari and Hindley unable to train on Giro d'Italia rest day

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe faces a challenging period at the Giro d’Italia as co-leader Giulio Pellizzari and teammate Jai Hindley have been sidelined by a stomach virus, preventing them from training on the race’s rest day. Pellizzari, who had shown promising form early in the race and was positioned ninth overall, struggled significantly on recent mountain stages due to the illness. Both riders, along with domestique Gianni Moscon, prioritised recovery over preparation for the crucial upcoming 42km time trial, casting doubt on their ability to contest the general classification effectively. Pellizzari’s condition appears particularly severe; he experienced difficulty digesting food and was close to vomiting during Sunday’s stage. Despite these setbacks, he remains determined to continue racing, expressing a fighting spirit and a desire to limit the time lost to race leader Jonas Vingegaard. The young Italian’s coach, Sylwester Szymd, emphasised the importance of recovery and noted that Pellizzari is in the best form of his career, providing hope that he can bounce back in the latter stages of the Giro. The Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team remains optimistic despite the illness-related difficulties. Sports director Christian Pömer highlighted that the first eight days had gone well and that there was still a significant portion of the race remaining, including key mountain stages and the time trial. The team’s focus is on protecting Pellizzari and Hindley while maintaining a strong team spirit, with ambitions still set on achieving a podium finish and securing a stage victory. Looking ahead, the time trial represents a critical moment in the race, with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe aware of its potential to reshape the general classification. However, the riders’ current health issues mean that the team’s hopes hinge on their ability to recover swiftly and manage the damage caused by the virus. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether Pellizzari and Hindley can reassert themselves as serious contenders against Vingegaard and other rivals.