'Half the peloton fell ill' – Cow manure infection blamed as Arnaud De Lie and Lotto-Intermarché see Giro d'Italia build-up derailed

Arnaud De Lie and several members of the Lotto-Intermarché team faced significant health challenges ahead of the Giro d’Italia Grande Partenza in Bulgaria, with a suspected cow manure-related infection disrupting their preparations. De Lie, who had won the Famenne Ardennes Classic shortly before the Giro, was unable to attend the team presentation due to illness, alongside other teammates who experienced gastrointestinal symptoms. The infection, believed to be campylobacter, caused severe diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and vomiting, forcing some riders to withdraw or travel late to the race. The outbreak appears to have affected a large portion of the peloton, with reports suggesting that up to half of the riders who competed in the rain-soaked Famenne Ardennes Classic fell ill. The contamination likely occurred when cow dung on the wet roads was sprayed into the riders’ faces and ingested during the race. This led to widespread gastrointestinal issues not only within Lotto-Intermarché but also among riders from other teams such as Flanders-Baloise, VolkerWessels, and Van Rysel-Roubaix. Lotto-Intermarché’s sports director Maxime Bouet emphasised the team’s cautious approach, prioritising health and preventing further spread of the infection. While De Lie remained under observation and was allowed to train on the morning before the race, he was still feeling under the weather, and the team opted to keep him isolated from other riders. Despite the setbacks, Bouet expressed optimism about the squad’s prospects, highlighting other contenders within the team who could still target stage victories. The incident raises concerns about rider safety and race conditions, particularly when adverse weather interacts with environmental hazards. It also underscores the unpredictable challenges teams face in the lead-up to major events like the Giro d’Italia. As the race progresses, attention will focus on how quickly affected riders recover and whether the illness impacts the competitive dynamics of the opening stages in Bulgaria.