Rui Costa out of Tour de France overall battle with bronchitis
World Champion Rui Costa likely to change his Tour de France aim from yellow jersey to stage wins
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

World Champion Rui Costa must reconsider his Tour de France ambitions after bronchitis knocked him out of the overall battle.
"He was just battling to breathe yesterday," Lampre-Merida team manager, Brent Copeland told Cycling Weekly. "He just had to save himself."
The 27-year-old Portuguese cyclist began the Tour de France with hopes of a top five or top three. His hopes were bolstered when top favourites Chris Froome (Sky) and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) had to abandon due to crashes. A sore throat and bronchitis, however, dashed Costa’s plans.
Costa lost 1-36 minutes to Oyonnax on Wednesday and 1-06 on Monday up La Planche des Belles Filles. He now sits 14th overall at 5-34 minutes behind race leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana).
South African Copeland said that he wants what is best for Costa, who joined the team at the start of this season after winning the worlds in Florence, Italy.
"He has to think about whether he should try to keep his GC position or go for stages," Copeland said.
"He feels better this morning, but we have to see today how he's doing. With four climbs, we'll know how he's going to do. We'll know tonight for the next week. If he doesn't feel great, then we'll know."
Costa won two stages from escapes and the Tour de Suisse overall last year in addition to the worlds. He had a slow start in team Lampre, but showed ready for the Tour with another overall victory in the Tour de Suisse.
Copeland said that he believes that the Italian team can develop Costa into a Tour rider in the coming years. So confident, the blue and pink team already signed a pre-agreement to keep him through 2016.
"He's a great person and a group rider, who can really keep the team around him. He's really a rider for the Tour that you can work around. This is the first grand tour that he's been in as a captain. Every day's been a learning curve for him, that's why were weren't expecting anything more than a top 10 to begin with,” continued Copeland
"He doesn't need to improve that much, but we need to improve our team around him. We have better idea of what his needs are for the next grand tour that we do with him as a captain. I would put more blame on ourselves for not having the right team here for his necessities.
"Next year, will bring on board men who can set in the wind for him. You have to start looking a year before to build towards a Tour top three, looking at the men you need. It's a long process."
Rui Costa going for Tour de France podium spot
Triple Tour de Suisse winner and World champion Rui Costa will be Lampre-Merida's overall contender
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
HED Emporia GC3 Performance gravel wheelset review - strong, robust and made in the USA
A solid, dependable set of hoops but - no surprise - they are more expensive than those made in the Far East
By Joe Baker • Published
-
Women’s WorldTour calendar 'a mess' and 'a nonsense' says Movistar boss
The UCI must invest in the bottom of the pyramid to ensure the sport’s future says Sebastián Unzué
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
All the 2023 kits: EF Education-EasyPost share latest collaboration with Rapha
American WorldTour team become latest to release their new 2023 kit, here's the rest
By Adam Becket • Published
-
From Grand Tour victories to gold medals: The nine best signings of 2022
We look back at the signings that made the biggest impacts during this year's season
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Alpecin-Deceuninck confirm Jay Vine move to UAE Team Emirates
The Australian previously hinted that he'd remain with the Belgian team in 2023
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar is still the best rider in the world, right?
16 wins, a third monument, but second at the Tour de France sums up his 2022
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Adam Yates leaves Ineos Grenadiers for UAE Team Emirates
British rider agrees three year deal with new team
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Remco Evenepoel wins maiden grand tour at Vuelta a España
Juan Sebastián Molano takes a surprise final stage win after a messy sprint in Madrid
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
‘I was rubbing shoulders with Nibali and Valverde’ - Oliver Knight gets starstruck at Vuelta a Burgos
UAE Team Emirates rider makes big step up in key race before the Vuelta a España
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tour de Yorkshire to be replaced with new look cycling event in 2024
Tour de Yorkshire not due to return to north of England, although initial plans announced for new cycling event in area
By Tom Thewlis • Last updated