The list of riders withdrawing from Paris-Nice grew overnight as a stomach bug has rapidly spread through the peloton.
Joost Posthuma (RadioShack-Nissan) and Taylor Phinney (BMC) are the latest riders to succumb to the instestinal complaint that has already cut Paris-Nice short for Andy Schleck (RadioShack-Nissan), Jan Bakelants (RadioShack-Nissan), Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol) and Olivier Kaisen (Lotto-Belisol).
"Woke up at 2:30am and threw up everything I ate yesterday... Seems to be a stomach bug going around at this race," Phinney commented on Twitter.
"Really down... This stomach bug has taken everything out of me. I hate quitting more than anything but have to look out for my body."
The withdrawal of Posthuma, Bakelandts and Schleck leaves RadioShack-Nissan with just five riders in the race.
Britain's Bradley Wiggins currently leads the race for Sky, which has so far managed to avoid losing any riders to the illness.
Related links
Paris-Nice 2012: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
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