There is a specific, quiet kind of bravery in professional cycling that rarely makes the highlight reels. It isn’t the explosive attack on a 12-percent grade or the daring dive into a sprint. Instead, This proves the grit of a rider who knows they are broken but refuses to stop pedaling until the team’s goal is secure. For two days, Wilco Kelderman embodied that spirit, racing through the pain of a fractured collarbone before the reality of the injury finally forced his exit from the 109th Giro d’Italia.
The departure of the 35-year-old Dutchman on Tuesday is more than just another name on the abandonment list. it is a tactical crisis for Jonas Vingegaard. As the favorite for the pink jersey, Vingegaard relies on a carefully constructed support system to navigate the brutal Italian terrain. In Kelderman, he had one of his most experienced and reliable mountain lieutenants—a rider capable of pacing a leader through the thin air of the high Alps and neutralizing attacks from rivals.
Vingegaard’s squad, Visma-Lease a Bike, is now operating with a depleted roster of seven riders. While the Dane himself remains unscathed, the attrition of the first four stages has begun to strip away the protection he needs for the closing week of the race. In the high-stakes game of Grand Tour racing, the loss of a key climber is often the difference between a controlled victory and a desperate defensive struggle.
The Silent Struggle of Wilco Kelderman
The injury traced back to Saturday’s Stage 2 in Bulgaria, a day characterized by chaos. A horrific pileup claimed several general classification contenders, including Adam Yates and Jay Vine, and left others, like North American Derek Gee-West, bruised and battered. Kelderman was caught in the carnage, suffering deep cuts and scrapes that masked a more serious structural failure in his shoulder.
Despite the fracture, Kelderman finished both Stage 2 and Stage 3. It was a display of resilience that only became public late Tuesday when teammate Victor Campenaerts revealed the extent of the injury. For Kelderman, the exit is a bitter pill to swallow after a rigorous preparation period that included extensive altitude training specifically designed for this Giro.
“Yes, it’s a pity,” Kelderman said in a team video following his withdrawal. “If you have a large preparation, and then you have to leave your guys with a big goal… When you’re a cyclist, you feel it.”
Vingegaard was candid about the impact of the loss. “It’s really shit. We’re going to miss Wilco in the coming days and weeks,” he said. However, the team leader maintained a perspective on the long-term health of his teammate, noting that while the tactical blow is significant, the physical recovery of Kelderman is the priority.
A bizarre exit and a sprinter’s setback
While Kelderman’s exit was a matter of structural failure, Arnaud De Lie’s departure was a matter of biological misfortune. The 24-year-old Belgian, making his Giro debut, abandoned the race on Tuesday after battling a persistent bacterial infection that refused to yield, even after Monday’s rest day.
The source of the illness is a stark reminder of the hazards of the road. De Lie reportedly ingested bacteria from cow manure kicked up by road spray during the Lotto Famenne Ardenne Classic two weekends prior. In a cruel twist of irony, the remarkably race that left him ill was also the site of his only victory of 2026. Despite receiving help from rivals during the race, the infection proved too taxing for the all-rounder to continue.
The struggle has extended to his Lotto Intermarché teammate, Milan Menten. Menten, who arrived at the Giro a day late due to similar stomach issues, was seen vomiting twice during Tuesday’s stage. Team director Pieter Vanspeybrouck indicated that Menten’s participation now “hangs by a thread,” though the team is prioritizing his recovery for the upcoming Tour of Wallonia and the Tour de France.
Adding to the day’s losses was Australian sprint ace Kaden Groves. Racing in the final year of his contract with Alpecin-Premier Tech, Groves had been a primary threat for stage wins. However, a crash during the opening stage in Bulgaria left him unable to recover. While his Giro is over, the team confirmed that Groves remains slated for the Tour de France.
The Growing List of Attrition
The early stages of this Giro have been particularly unkind to the peloton’s heavy hitters. The loss of high-profile riders early in a Grand Tour often shifts the psychological dynamic of the race, leaving gaps in the field that aggressive riders are eager to exploit.
| Rider | Team | Reason for Abandonment |
|---|---|---|
| Wilco Kelderman | Visma-Lease a Bike | Fractured Collarbone |
| Arnaud De Lie | Lotto Intermarché | Bacterial Infection |
| Kaden Groves | Alpecin-Premier Tech | Crash Aftermath |
| Adam Yates | UAE Emirates-XRG | Stage 2 Crash |
| Jay Vine | UAE Emirates-XRG | Stage 2 Crash |
Other notable absences now include Marc Soler, Santiago Buitrago, Matteo Moschetti, Ådne Holter, and Andrea Vendrame. For the North American contingent, however, there is a silver lining: all six starters, including the bruised Derek Gee-West, remain in the competition.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Potenza
The 109th Giro d’Italia continues Wednesday with Stage 5, a 203km trek from Praia a Mare to Potenza. The route is not without its perils, featuring a challenging Category 2 climb approximately 50km from the finish. For a shorthanded Visma-Lease a Bike squad and a peloton already thinned by crashes and illness, this climb will serve as a critical litmus test for those remaining in the fight for the pink jersey.
Note: This report discusses injuries and bacterial infections; for medical concerns regarding fractures or systemic infections, please consult a licensed healthcare professional.
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