
Arnaud De Lie was unable to contest either Giro d'Italia sprint finish in Bulgaria but the Belgian sprinter and his Lotto-Intermarché team are just happy he is still in the race after being hit by gastroenteritis in the days before the Grande Partenza.
De Lie won the Lotto Famenne Ardenne Classic on May 3 but was hit, like many other riders, by illness as he flew to Bulgaria. His teammate Milan Menten also suffered, even going to hospital for checks after fainting and so delayed his travel to the Giro d'Italia.