Tuesday 17 May 2016 21:17, UK
Team Sky's Mikel Landa has abandoned the Giro d'Italia due to illness.
The 26-year-old, who was among the favourites for overall victory and had been lying eighth overall, was dropped on the first climb of Tuesday's 10th stage and quit the race with just under 150km of the total 219km remaining.
A Team Sky statement later confirmed Landa was suffering from gastroenteritis.
Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: "Mikel was ill overnight but we spoke this morning and he started today's stage with the hope of being able to pull through.
"It was pretty clear that the illness had badly affected him and that he wasn't going to be able to continue.
"We are really disappointed for Mikel, who was riding well and looking forward to attacking in the mountains and animating the race.
"However, we came here as a team and we'll continue as a team. There is a long way still to go, and although our focus was on Mikel, there's plenty of time for us to still make an impact at this Giro."
Landa was one minute 18 seconds adrift of the race leader Gianluca Brambilla prior to stage 10, and just 25 seconds down on key rival Vincenzo Nibali.
He had claimed he was in the "perfect place" to mount a victory challenge and will be devastated after being forced to withdraw.
Landa told skysports.com ahead of the 10th stage: "I am a climber and the hardest stages are coming, so I am positive and optimistic because the road from here to the finish is the best I can imagine."
His preparations for the Giro were also disrupted by an illness that forced him to delay the start of his season until the end of March, but he had been pleased with his condition going into the final week.
"My year started bad but we arrived in the best condition here. We did our best to be prepared and I feel good," he said during Monday's rest day.
