Israel-Premier Tech down to one rider at Paris-Nice as illness rips through peloton
Neilson Powless, Matteo Trentin and Dylan Groenewegen among 18 riders to drop out ahead of stage five
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Israel-Premier Tech have been reduced to just one rider at Paris-Nice as sickness and flu has decimated the peloton over the first five days of the race.
Hugo Houle started stage five of the stage race alone after three of his teammates were forced to withdraw ahead of the day's action, on top of three that had already departed.
They are among 18 riders to not start stage five, a list that includes Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost), Matteo Trentin (UAE Team Emirates) and Dylan Groenewegen (BikeExchange-Jayco).
Speaking ahead of the day (opens in new tab), Houle said it was a first time thing for him to be riding along. "I feel pretty lucky to still be feeling good," he said. "So far so good, I will try to give it a go today, it's a nice stage, plenty of opportunity I think. I'm here and I'll do my best to get a good result."
James Piccoli and Carl Fredrik Hagen were reported to be out with "non-Covid viral symptoms", while Tom Van Asbroeck is out with the "early signs of a respiratory infection".
Guillaume Boivin withdrew ahead of stage three with back pain, while Mads Würtz Schmidt was caught up in a crash on stage two and Rudy Barbier was forced to abandon after just one stage due to illness.
Other teams to lose riders ahead of stage five were Alpecin-Fenix, Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, Team Arkéa Samsic, AG2R Citroën, Team DSM, Bora-Hansgrohe, and Bahrain-Victorious.
Crashes on the hectic crosswind-affected stage two appear to have caused some to abandon, but it is mostly non-covid illness causing problems.
Trentin was forced to withdraw with concussion symptoms on Thursday after a crash on Monday, with the team saying that a scan "revealed the presence of new symptoms in keeping with a post-concussive syndrome (worsening headache, sensation of pressure in his head, drowsiness, fatigue, feeling unwell, neck pain)".
Both Yves Lampaert and Zdeněk Štybar left the race due to illness, according to Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl. The winner of the last two editions of the race, Max Schachmann, departed ahead of stage four due to feeling unwell.
Overall, 28 riders have abandoned Paris-Nice so far, which according to Procyclingstats (opens in new tab) is the the most to leave a stage race since 2011, and there are still four stages to be completed.
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
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s senior news and feature writer – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing, speaking to people as varied as Demi Vollering to Philippe Gilbert. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.
-
-
From false promises and heartbreak to hope - How Heidi Franz is bouncing back from the last-minute collapse of B&B Hotels
Mind games, false promises and a life left in limbo. How American Heidi Franz navigated the B&B Hotels demise and found a kickstart to her new European life
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Volta a la Communitat Valenciana: Biniam Girmay takes stage one sprint
It's another one in the bag for Intermarché-Circus-Wanty after Challenge Mallorca success
By James Shrubsall • Published
-
From the World Championships to Paris-Roubaix: Cycling Weekly's wins of 2022
It is hard to look past Annemiek van Vleuten, but we tried, so here is the best win of the year, plus nine more
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Chris Froome highlights dangers of long Covid after battle with virus
Four-time Tour de France champion warns of cardiovascular impact and says his VO2 max took a hit after illness
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Alex Dowsett to retire from professional cycling
33-year-old Israel-Premier Tech rider says his future is still going to be on two wheels, just not in WorldTour
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Dylan Teuns moves mid-season to Israel-PremierTech
Belgian rider moves to new team from Bahrain Victorious in unusual mid-season transfer
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Chris Froome out of Tour de France after positive Covid-19 test result
Four-time winner and third on Alpe d’Huez stage forced to abandon on stage 18
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'I’m going to keep pushing. I don’t know what my limits are': Chris Froome climbs to best result since 2018
Israel-Premier Tech rider finished third on stage 12 of the Tour de France to Alpe d'Huez
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'I just come out at every race swinging': Simon Clarke achieves childhood dream with Tour de France stage win after winter of contract fears
Australian was without a team coming into the season
By Tom Thewlis • Published