REIGNING TOUR DE France champion Bradley Wiggins has pulled out of the Giro d’Italia with a chest infection ahead of Stage 13.
Team Sky’s Wiggins and Ryder Hesjedal of Garmin-Sharp have both announced they would not start today’s 254-kilometre stage from Busseto to Cherasco.
Wiggins, who finished three minutes and 17 seconds off the pace in Thursday’s stage after being dropped with 40km remaining, was observed by Team Sky’s medical team overnight before coach David Brailsford ruled the 33-year-old Brit out of Stage 13.
“We monitored Bradley overnight and this morning we’ve withdrawn him from the Giro after consulting the team doctor,” Brailsford said. “His chest infection has been getting worse and our primary concern is always the health of our riders.
“Bradley will return to the UK today for treatment and to rest and we hope to have him back on the road as soon as possible. As a passionate racer he wanted to continue but he is simply unable to do so on medical grounds.”
With Wiggins dropping out, Colombia’s Rigoberto Uran will become Team Sky’s captain for the rest of the Giro. Uran sits third in the general classification, 2:04 behind overall leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana).
Hesjedal, who became the first Canadian to win a Grand Tour when he triumphed in last year’s Giro d’Italia, has yet to reveal the reason he is unable to complete the 2013 race but had looked out of sorts throughout the opening 12 stages.
The 32-year-old Canadian pulled out in 38th position in the general classification standings, 32:55 behind Nibali, and made it clear he is not in the right shape to complete the Italian race.
“Whatever it is, I’m only getting worse,” Hesjedal said. “Yesterday’s stage was just too much for me.”
