Giro 2024: Astana leader Alexei Lutsenko withdraws due to illness

The day after falling from the top of the general classification in the Giro d’Italia, Alexei Lutsenko retired. Kazakhstan, leader of Astana, did not start the ninth stage against Napoli on Sunday. According to the team, he was sick for several days.

Lutsenko was added to the Giro selection for Astana Qazaqstan at the last minute, in the hope that he can secure a good final seeding in the first grand tour of the year. In the third stage, Lutsenko sneaked into the top ten in the classification, then rose to sixth place in the classification through the first positions in Rapolano Terme (10th) and the time trial against Perugia (thirteenth).

Lutsenko was unable to continue this level in the mountain stage on Saturday against Prati di Tifo. He had to leave early on the final climb and eventually lost more than two minutes to stage and pink jersey winner Tadej Pogačar. Partly because of this, he dropped to eleventh place in the world rankings. But one day later, he was not at the start of the ninth stage against Napoli.

“Unfortunately, Alexei cannot continue in the Giro due to sinusitis and bronchitis. This decision was made this morning after the final examination,” explains team doctor Emilio Magni.

Dropouts

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Stage 6

Stage 8

Stage 9