Road race world champion Rui Costa (Lampre-Merida) has withdrawn from the Tour de France ahead of stage 16 after being diagnosed with pneumonia.
Costa had been suffering with bronchitis in the past week, and was already being treated with antibiotics. Despite his condition, Costa was 13th overall in the race.
After his health deteriorated during Monday's second rest day, doctors undertook further examinations of the 27 year old. X-rays confirmed that he is suffering from pneumonia - ruling the Portugese rider out of the remainder of the race.
"Rui Costa was very willing to continue and respect the Tour, therefore he wanted to get through the night in order to assess his condition in the morning, but the persistent state of not feeling well and the risk of forfeiting the rest of the season has convinced the world champion to retire from the race," said a Lampre-Merida team statement issued on Tuesday morning.
Costa went into the Tour with ambitions to appear on the general classification podium in Paris, then revised his aims to stage wins after losing time. Now, he'll head home to recuperate for the remainder of the season.
Costa is the fourth Lampre-Merida rider to leave the Tour to date, with Sacha Modolo, Maximiliano Richeze and Rafael Valls all previously retired. It leaves the Italian team with five riders in the race.
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
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
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
-
-
The Ultimate Gear Test: this bike and gear survived an epic edition of the Unbound XL
The Unbound XL is a true test of fitness, self-sufficiency, tenacity and equipment. Here’s how this rider's bike and gear fared after 352 miles of gravel, mud, rain and thunderstorms.
-
Specialized releases pro-race winning Roval Rapide Cockpit
Integrated rated Roval bar and stem has already seen multiple wins on bikes of Demi Vollering and Fabio Jakobsen this season
-
‘A perfect week for us’ – Adam Yates wraps up overall title in Romandie
Briton will now turn his focus to preparing for the Tour de France
-
Who can stop Tadej Pogačar? Victory at La Flèche Wallonne one more step on the road to Ardennes triple
The UAE Team Emirates rider has won the Amstel Gold Race and La Flèche Wallonne. Only Liège-Bastogne-Liège waits
-
Tom Boonen invited to test Colnago V4Rs after criticism of Tadej Pogačar's bike
Boonen and fellow ex-pro Dirk de Wolf invited to Italy for a "public conversation" on the data they used to make claim that bike hindered two-time Tour de France champion
-
Molano sprints to stage four victory at UAE Tour to save UAE Team Emirates' race
Colombian rider wins stage for home team at fourth opportunity, as Remco Evenepoel continues in race lead
-
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
-
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
-
Alpecin-Deceuninck confirm Jay Vine move to UAE Team Emirates
The Australian previously hinted that he'd remain with the Belgian team in 2023
-
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
