After falling to 27th overall position, Italian Champion Fabio Aru decided to put an end to this year’s Giro d’Italia earlier today while in the middle of stage 19.
Apparently, the UAE Team Emirates main rider, after losing significant time on every mountain stage at this year’s Giro, found himself in the 27th position, aka 45 minutes behind Simon Yates, the race leader.
.@FabioAru1 has abandoned the race on the Colle del Lys. #Giro101 #UAETeamEmirates
— @UAE-TeamEmirates (@TeamUAEAbuDhabi) May 25, 2018
It was his team who gave the unexpected news confirming Aru’s exit without giving any additional reason behind this decision.
Many people believed in Aru and were convinced his home-based Grand Tour will motivate him to get back to his previous shape. Especially after a not-so-impressive Tour de France in 2017.
A rough start
However, it seems Aru has lost his spark giving a fair opening-day performance in Israel earlier this month. And, despite looking like he was getting better finishing with the favorites at sixth stage on Mount Etna, he lost time again on 9th stage at Gran Sasso.
He entered the second week losing two minutes on stage 14 on Monte Zoncolan. He lost another 19 minutes on the following stage.
No one expected his performance at stage 16 time trial. He got sixth place even though it was soon discovered how he had achieved the unbelievable result which was completely against the clock as Giro organizers penalized him for drafting. On stage 17, he ended up finishing the race on 112th position.
30 km to go. @chrisfroome is virtual Maglia Rosa | 30 km al termine. @chrisfroome è Maglia Rosa Virtuale #Giro101 #Giro @TeamSky pic.twitter.com/oqAf0oZslL
— Giro d’Italia (@giroditalia) May 25, 2018