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The Frenchman Arnaud Demare, second from left, crosses the finish line to win stage 13 of the Giro D’Italia, from Sanremo to Cuneo.
Romain Bardet sees withdrew on Friday of the Giro D’Italia due to stomach problems, before French cyclist Arnaud Démare won his third victory in this year’s race.
Bardet, who was among the favorites for the Giro, he got off of his bicycle when he had passed a third of the 13th stage and got on the bike. to a DSM team car. Shortly after, the team confirmed abandoning her.
Bardet had suffered stomach problems the previous day and was seen to put his hand on his stomach before the start on Friday in a gesture of pain.
He was fourth overall, 14 seconds behind leader Juan Pedro López of Spain, and was expected to be the main challenger to favorite Richard Carapaz of Ecuador. Bardet had been in excellent form, winning the Tour of the Alps last year and almost winning the ninth stage of the Giro on Sunday.
Many expected stage 13 to be a close for sprinters, but for a long time it seemed ; that it was to be won on a takeoff. However, the sprint teams worked hard to lead the pack and the four breakaways were swallowed up just 700 meters from the finish.
Everything was ready for the final acceleration and Démare managed to win. He overtook Phil Bauhaus and Mark Cavendish at the end of the 150-kilometre (93-mile) route from San Remo to Cuneo.
López maintained his 12-second lead over Carapaz and João Almeida and it will shine The pink jersey for the 10th day on Saturday for the 14th stage. It is the shortest of the race, at just 147 kilometers (91 miles), but includes the climbs of Maddalena and Superga on a difficult two-lap circuit in the second half of the winding route from Santena to Turí ;n.
The Giro ends on May 29 in Verona.