Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe) has been forced to pull out of the 2017 Strade Bianche.
>>> Strade Bianche LIVE: follow our live coverage from start to finish
The world champion's Bora team announced that he had to abandon the race with around 70km to go after feeling unwell.
Sagan began the day as one of the favourites for victory having finished fourth last year and showed some scintillating form in the Belgian one-day races last week, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, in which he finished second, and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, which he won from a small breakaway group.
Bora said that Sagan has been feeling unwell before the race, but wanted to ride as much of it as possible despite being under the weather.
All eyes will now switch to the likes of Omloop winner Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing), who was another pre-race favourite alongside Sagan after showing some super form himself.
The pair will next face-off at the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race which begins on Tuesday. Van Avermaet goes in as defending champion, but both he and Sagan will be looking to gain some more form ahead of Milan-San Remo and the northern Classics in April.
-
-
Tweets of the week: Evie Richards tries skateboarding, Alex Dowsett's puncture nightmare and more
Here's a selection of our favourite tweets from the last seven days
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Lezyne Macro Drive 1300XXL review
A quality option that offers up a greater battery life than the competition and produces a wide beam that helps keep your peripheral vision informed
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan •
-
Peter Sagan wants Niki Terpstra to continue at TotalEnergies rather than retire
The three-time world champion says he wants to talk to the two-time Monument winner if he wishes to continue riding
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Peter Sagan will ride the European Championships in Trento
The three-time world champion has been training on both road and mountain bikes in the Pyrenees
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Watch Peter Sagan show off his amazing bike handling skills on rapid downhill mountain bike course
The Slovakian has said he may be looking to race mountain bike and gravel with new team in 2022
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Peter Sagan: 'TotalEnergies not in the WorldTour is not a problem for me'
The three-time world champion appears to be stepping down from WorldTour level next season
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Peter Sagan will ride for Team TotalEnergies in 2022
The three-time world champion also brings riders and staff as well as new bike and clothing brands
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Five of the biggest transfer rumours in the men's peloton
Some big names could be in different kit for the 2022 season
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Peter Sagan confirms Bora-Hansgrohe departure at the end of the 2021 season
The three-time world champion will leave the team, along with their talisman sprinter Pascal Ackermann
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Peter Sagan confirmed to target eighth green jersey at Tour de France
Sagan will share leadership roles with Wilco Kelderman
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
