Fabian Cancellara garnered the biggest cheer from the crowds standing outside the Trek-Segafredo bus when he climbed down the stairs and onto his bike in Nijmegen at the start of stage 3 of the Giro d’Italia. But team management admit that despite the strong local support, tthe Swiss rider’s condition as he struggles on with sickness is anything but good.
After his eighth place in the opening time trial, Cancellara eased back on stage two, losing nearly two minutes, finishing fourth last in 195th place and dispelling any faint hopes he might bounce back quickly from his fever and gastroenteritis.
“His condition is still not good,” Trek-Segafredo director Dirk Demol told Cyclingnews. “Recovering from what he had is difficult, especially with the heat, it's 27 degrees all day. When you already have problems, it’s not the best way to recover. He is far from 100 per cent.”
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After stage two, Demol said, “he was really empty. Empty. That’s why he sat up at the end. The goal is now to get to the rest day. Then it will be a stage on Tuesday…he was sick on Wednesday, so he should be recovered by then. We still hope he can go well in the next time trial.”
The idea of quitting, though, has not begun to circulate amongst the team. “It never came up, not even on Saturday. A few days ago he had fever, diarrhea. He was disappointed. He made no secret that he was focused on the time trial, because it was the only leader's jersey he has never worn in a Grand Tour. He took a week off after Paris-Roubaix and had been preparing ever since for the first stage of the Giro here in Holland."
More on this story:
• Giro d'Italia: Kittel wins stage 3
• Giro d'Italia stage 3: Finish line quotes
• Lefevere blasts other sprint teams at Giro d’Italia
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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