Several cyclists, including riders set to start the Giro d'Italia on Friday, fell ill after a one-day race in Belgium, with cow manure on the roads suspected as the cause. The Famenne Ardenne Classic, held on Sunday, saw multiple riders suffer from abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, and vomiting, leading to hospitalizations.
Team Lotto-Intermarché Affected
Three riders from Lotto-Intermarché were briefly taken to hospital, the team confirmed from Bulgaria, where the Giro begins on Friday. Arnaud De Lie, the race winner and expected team leader for the Giro, initially showed no symptoms but later felt nauseous during the flight to Bulgaria. "He's not feeling well, but his participation in the Giro is not compromised at this stage," the team said. Only five of Lotto's eight riders were able to attend the race presentation on Wednesday.
Widespread Illness in Peloton
According to Belgian broadcaster Sporza, other teams such as Alpecin have also been affected. Lotto's sporting director Maxime Bouet stated: "Half the peloton is ill." Lotto suggested the riders may have been contaminated by cow manure on the Ardennes course, with wet roads causing excrement to splash onto riders. Although the exact cause is unconfirmed, campylobacter bacteria, responsible for gastrointestinal infections, is suspected.
Vandalism of Eddy Merckx Monument
In a separate incident in Brussels, local authorities reported that vandals damaged a commemorative stone slab honoring Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx. The monument, located in Bouvreuils Square, features the face of the five-time Tour de France winner. Mayor Benoît Cerexhe expressed outrage, saying: "Who could want to attack an athlete, a symbol of our country? Nothing justifies such an act." CCTV footage will be analyzed, and the monument, inaugurated in 2019, will be repaired promptly.
