Tao Geoghegan Hart and Giulio Ciccone have been hit by COVID-19 and flu, forcing them to overlook very important coaching within the last weeks earlier than the Tour de France.
The Briton and Italian are a part of a multi-faceted Lidl-Trek workforce that additionally contains Mads Pedersen however their sickness may now impression their hopes and ambitions on the Tour de France.
Ciccone missed the Giro d’Italia after a critical saddle sore and surgical procedure pressured him off the bike for a lot of the spring. He received the polka-dot mountains jersey on the 2023 Tour de France and was anticipated to focus on stage victories this 12 months.
He impressed on the Critérium du Dauphiné however then fell ailing on his return dwelling.
“It was not a return dwelling as I hoped,” Ciccone wrote on social media on Monday. “The flu acquired me and I have not educated since Friday. I hope to get higher quickly and recuperate in time for the Italian nationwide championships.”
Geoghegan Hart moved to Lidl-Trek for 2024 after his restoration from a fancy femur fracture on the 2023 Giro d’Italia. The Tour de France was alleged to be a take a look at of his Grand Tour potential after making gradual build-up through a sequence of stage races. However, he was hit from behind within the mass Dauphiné crash on stage 5 and finally deserted the French race earlier than stage 7.
He returned to his dwelling in Andorra and was trying ahead to the easy issues in life, comparable to making his personal meals as he recovered and educated for the Tour de France. However, he examined constructive for COVID-19 and revealed he was ‘tremendous sick’ final week.
“I all the time say I miss shopping for contemporary groceries and cooking. Even the easy choice of truly selecting what to have for lunch and dinner. This week has seen loads of time for that, with zero bike using and 5 days of Covid constructive,” Geoghegan Hart revealed on social media, posting images of his meals.
“I assumed these days had been lengthy gone however sadly I’ve been tremendous sick. Take care everybody. And ensure you eat all the colors of the rainbow.”
Lidl-Trek has nonetheless to verify its last Tour de France squad and ambitions however riders are anticipated to journey for the Grand Depart subsequent Tuesday. The 2024 Tour de France begins on Saturday, June 29 with a hilly street stage from Florence to Rimini.