Belgian Wellens out of Giro before Monte Zoncolan stage

MILAN: Belgian rider Tim Wellens has pulled out of the Giro d’Italia on Saturday ahead of the 14th stage to the summit of Monte Zoncolan because of a fever.

The 27-year-old Lotto-Soudal rider won a sprint finish for the fourth stage between Catania and Caltagirone in Sicily.

But his team said he has been suffering from a sore throat and signs of bronchitis, and had a fever after Friday’s stage.

“It’s never fun to abandon a Grand Tour,” said Wellens in a statement.

“Thanks to my stage win I can say my Giro has been a success, but I would have loved to aim for a second victory.

“The past days I had a go.

“I felt as if I couldn’t catch up on sleep and that didn’t improve with the move to the mainland.”

Wellens has won two stages in his three participations in the Giro in which he finished 54th in 2014 and 96th in 2016. New Zealand’s Tom Scully of the EF Drapac team has also pulled out of the race.