'A brutally hard day on the bike' – Erlend Blikra forced out of Giro d'Italia after missing the time cut on stage 11

Norwegian sprinter Erlend Blikra has been forced to abandon the 2026 Giro d’Italia after missing the time cut on the demanding stage 11. Riding for Uno-X Mobility, Blikra finished the 195km hilly stage from Porcari to Chiavari 37 minutes and 6 seconds behind stage winner Jhonatan Narváez, narrowly exceeding the 35-minute and 35-second time limit by 1 minute and 31 seconds. This marked the first rider elimination due to the time cut in this year’s race, with Blikra crossing the line as the last finisher on the day. Blikra’s struggles throughout the Giro were compounded by a crash on stage 1 that left his back severely injured, followed by illness that hampered his recovery and performance. Despite these setbacks, he persevered through several tough stages, finishing near the back of the field in the days leading up to the rest day. His teammate Martin Tjøtta, also battling injury and illness, abandoned the race during stage 11 after falling behind on the challenging terrain of the Cinque Terre region. Both riders had shown glimpses of strong form earlier in the race, with Blikra securing a sixth-place sprint finish on stage 3 and Tjøtta achieving a podium spot on stage 8. Reflecting on his experience, Blikra described the day as “a brutally hard day on the bike” and acknowledged the physical toll of his injuries and illness. He expressed disappointment over how his Grand Tour debut unfolded but remained positive about the effort he and Tjøtta put in. The Norwegian indicated that it was now time to focus on rest and recovery after the gruelling race, signalling a return to competition in the near future. The loss of Blikra and Tjøtta leaves Uno-X Mobility with five riders still in the Giro, following an earlier withdrawal by Ådne Holter on stage 2. Despite the setbacks, the team can take pride in the strong performances delivered by their riders, particularly in the sprint and breakaway stages. As the race continues to unfold, Uno-X will look to maintain their presence and build on the promising results of their young squad in one of cycling’s toughest Grand Tours.