When Orica-Scott hit the front with 1.5km to go in yesterday's Tirreno-Adriatico stage, you might not have thought much of it, but this was a team trying to rescue something from a race that has seen them enter the final day with only three riders.
Like every other team in the race, Orica-Scott started with eight riders, but have steadily seen their numbers fall as the race has gone on.
The first two to bite the dust were Roger Kluge and Caleb Ewan on stage two, with Kluge suffering from a fever, while Ewan was caught up in a crash.
Better luck ensued in the following few stages, with Adam Yates climbing well on the queen stage to finish third behind Nairo Quintana and Geraint Thomas, before abandoning the following day due to stomach problems and a fever.
Watch: Secrets of the Toolbox - Orica-Greenedge
The bug then seemed to spread to other members of the team, with Roman Kreuziger not starting stage six, and Luke Durbridge abandoning midway through the stage, to leave the team with three survivors for today's final time trial.
Directeur sportif Matt White saw the silver lining to the cloud that has decimated the team over the last few days.
"It is what it is and we have to be thankful that we are not losing riders to serious injury," White said after stage six. "It's only a virus and one that will hopefully pass really quickly."
This isn't the first time that the Australian team has found itself seriously short-handed, with only two brave riders making it to the end of the 2014 Giro d'Italia.
What's more one of those Giro veterans was Michael Hepburn, who has also used his survival instincts to steer clear of illness over the course of this race.
-
-
Mark Cavendish spotted cycling in central London
Cavendish will race in the World Championships on Sunday 26 September, but needed to get some miles in his legs in London
By Ryan Dabbs •
-
See and be seen with the Garmin Varia rearview radar and tail light
Garmin’s clever tail light alerts you to approaching vehicles as well as upping your road presence
By Cycling Weekly •
-
Rival teams lend spare bikes to BikeExchange after thieves steal 12 machines at Tour de l'Ardeche
The Australian team managed to start the fifth stage after help from Trek Segafredo, Liv Racing, and Movistar
By Ryan Dabbs •
-
Esteban Chaves joins EF Education-Nippo for 2022 after eight years at Team BikeExchange
The Colombian has seen a lot of success while riding with the Australian squad but wants a new challenge
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Simon Yates believed Egan Bernal would let him go at Giro d’Italia after reading rival’s comments in media
The British climber said he had a feeling Ineos Grenadiers wouldn’t try to chase on stage 19
By Alex Ballinger •
-
'Podium still within reach' for Simon Yates who accepts Giro d'Italia victory is beyond him now
Simon Yates concedes fighting for the maglia rosa and will now aim for the podium at the Giro d'Italia after losing time on stage 16
By Jonny Long •
-
Simon Yates says riding Strade Bianche earlier this year helped him on stage 11 of the Giro d'Italia 2021
The British rider moved up to fifth overall after holding on to the likes of Egan Bernal until the final climb
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Team BikeExchange sports director thrown off Giro d'Italia after driving into Pieter Serry on stage six
The sports director did apologise to the Belgian rider but was thrown off the race
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Simon Yates wary of third week surprises at the Giro d'Italia
The British rider comes into the race as one of the two big favourites alongside Egan Bernal
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Simon Yates wins the Tour of the Alps 2021 as Felix Großschartner solos to victory from the breakaway
Simon Yates took the overall title after stage five of the Tour of the Alps 2021 with Felix Großschartner holding on from the breakaway to cross the line first and take the stage victory
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
