Why was Pellizzari dropped early on Giro d'Italia stages 16 and 17?

Giulio Pellizzari was dropped early in stage 17 of the Giro d'Italia. The young Italian from Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe had fallen definitively out of GC contention a day earlier, after a disastrous day in the mountains. He had sounded optimistic in his pre-stage 17 interview, so it remains to be seen why Pellizzari dropped away so early in the stage.

The climber had grand ambitions for this Giro d'Italia, but after a sixth place at the 2025 Giro — and then also a sixth place and a stage win at the Vuelta a España — he has not been able to deliver this time around. Stomach problems at the end of the first week cost him time, and although Pellizzari seemed to bounce back in the second week, stage 16 was finally the end.

"I just had no legs, nothing special," Pellizzari laughed the following day in the mixed zone. "I don't know if I am still recovering from the problems in the first week. I actually thought those problems were behind me, especially after the two days before the second rest day. I don't want to make excuses — I just didn't have the legs".

"After the Giro we'll have time to work out what happened and what we can do better in the years ahead," Pellizzari said, before continuing: "And the Giro isn't over yet, you know. I want to give something back to the team, because they have done a lot for me. Jai (Hindley, ed.) is fighting for the podium, so we have a good chance with him. I have to give something back to the team".

That was not going to be in stage 17, which saw a fierce battle for the day's breakaway. Pellizzari was seen dropping after just over 60 kilometres. Whether that was a deliberate choice or not remains to be seen. "I am relaxed and happy, even though everything has gone 'shit' since Blockhaus. That is all behind me now, I am just going to enjoy the last few days of the Giro," he had said beforehand.

Pellizzari did not dismiss the scenario of saving his legs for stages 19 and 20, before perhaps making an impression in the final mountain stages. But Hindley also plays a role. "Jai and I are friends, so now that I've dropped out of GC contention, I'd love to help him. We don't have to worry too much about Jonas (Vingegaard, ed.), but behind him there is a fine battle between Arensman, Gall and Jai."

"Jai seems to be getting stronger and stronger, so we're going for the podium".