Italian Vincenzo Nibali dropped out of the Vuelta a San Juan before the start of stage 1 after contracting gastroenteritis before the race began, the Bahrain-Merida team announced on Twitter on Sunday.
The Italian's five teammates will go on without him, with Nibali's brother Antonio joined by Kanstantsin Siutsou, Niccolo Bonifazio, Ivan Cortina, and newcomer Mark Padun.
There were reports of more riders being hit by the bug at the race hotel, and there could be more abandons as the race continues. The Vuelta a San Juan opens with a 148.9km stage from San Juan - Pocito on Sunday.
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It is an inauspicious start for Nibali, who ended last season with a victory in Il Lombardia after coming second to Chris Froome (Team Sky) in the Vuelta a España. Nibali could stand to inherit that title from Froome should the Briton be disqualified for his too-high salbutamol level on stage 18 of the race.
@vueltasanjuanok
— Team Bahrain Merida (@Bahrain_Merida) January 21, 2018
Unfortunately @vincenzonibali is unable to start Stage 1 due to stomach bug.#BAHRAINMERIDA line-up @AntonioNibali @siutsou @Bonifazio_993 @ivan_cortina @PadunMark pic.twitter.com/uh5O0DlW2W
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest News http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vincenzo-nibali-abandons-vuelta-a-san-juan
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