‘I never panic’ – Romain Bardet stays in the game at Giro d’Italia despite illness

Romain Bardet hadn’t reckoned with losing more than two minutes on the opening weekend of the Giro d’Italia, but he still must have come away from the first two stages with a sense of relief. It could have been much worse.

After placing second at Liège-Bastogne-Liège last month, Bardet arrived at this Giro among the favourites for a podium spot. When he fell ill midway through the opening stage, however, Bardet must have wondered if he would last the distance at all.