The fault of bad luck, or rather the fault of the gastro.
Romain Bardet returned in an interview with
L'Equipe
on his not quite sudden retirement from the Giro when he was in the running for the pink jersey.
The Frenchman admits having struggled during a stage on his bike before having to resolve to give up the next day.
“The night from Thursday to Friday was the worst of my life, explained the Frenchman.
By starting the stage, I already knew that I would not go to the end.
I couldn't even hold the wheels at 200 watts.
I hadn't slept or eaten for almost two days.
It caught me cold.
I was drained.
I could not do anything.
»
No regrets for Bardet: the disease gnawed at him for three more days and spending a few extra hours on a bike to finish this 13th stage would not have gotten him anywhere.
The DSM runner, on the other hand, is worried about being hit so often by this virus.
“We work on my personal hygiene, food of course, but also very small details, my toothbrush, on which I do not always put a cache, stuff like that.
I have to take as many precautions as possible.
»
Seize all the opportunities on the Tour
Frustrated by his abandonment, Romain Bardet announced that he would participate in the Tour de France 2022, which will be his recovery race.
Without ambitions for the general classification, the former AG2R does not however go there to make up the numbers.
“It's a bit of a stretch to say that, but I want to run each stage as if it were a classic.
I would like to stay healthy throughout the three weeks, I would like to have a good feeling in the Alps and the Pyrenees.
We will have a super aggressive team that will try to be constantly up front.
I won't get up but I won't be obsessed with the general classification, like in the Giro.
I want to seize all possible opportunities.
»
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Romain Bardet
Giro
Tour de France
Cycling
Sport