Sickness continues to rip through Lotto-Intermarché: after De Lie, Milan Menten also abandons the Giro

Despite Lennert Van Eetvelt's strong performances, Lotto-Intermarché are having a wretched Giro d'Italia. Milan Menten and Arnaud De Lie both started in Bulgaria with a gastrointestinal infection — and now Menten has also called it quits, as confirmed by his team, after he had already indicated as much to Het Nieuwsblad.

During the Lotto Femenne Ardenne Classic — won by De Lie — several riders picked up a bacterial infection, possibly caused by cattle manure sprayed up from the wet road. Lotto-Intermarché were hit hardest of anyone: three of their Giro riders were struck by the illness. Liam Slock could not start at all, while Menten and De Lie also arrived far from fit.

After days of struggling, De Lie stepped off his bike during stage four, unable to hold on when the road tilted upwards even slightly. For the Belgian sprinter, it was an unwinnable battle. He had also indicated he would leave the race early regardless — not riding to Rome had already been the plan.

Menten did complete stage four, but finished second to last. The Belgian had an extremely difficult day and — according to sporting director Pieter Vanspeybrouck — vomited twice during the stage. Afterwards, he said it had simply been about survival. "There wasn't much more in me today."

Menten had already made his intentions clear at the finish. "I won't be starting tomorrow — that's just impossible. We were hoping the rest day would get us through it, but that wasn't the case. The moment I make any effort, I completely blow up."

He believes the infection is still active in his body. "The body just isn't absorbing any nutrition. It was simply terrible." He has also questioned whether starting the race was the right call in the first place. "In hindsight, it probably wasn't the right decision. But it is what it is. There were no replacement riders available either. The team had little to lose by letting us start."

Lotto-Intermarché have now confirmed Menten's withdrawal. He is the 11th rider to leave this Giro.