The Giro d'Italia and Giulio Ciccone continue to have a challenging relationship: the Abruzzo climber from Lidl Trek fell during the final stages of stage 14, when the race entered a local circuit. Giulio immediately appeared to be in pain, struggled to get back on his bicycle, and then, with great willpower, managed to finish the stage in the last group, over 16 minutes behind the winner.

Immediately after the finish, Ciccone was taken to the local hospital where ultrasound and X-ray examinations were performed. These tests confirmed that Ciccone suffered a large hematoma on the vastus lateralis muscle, on the right quadriceps, and had a small muscle fascia wound. These injuries are such that they prevent him from continuing the Giro d'Italia. For his recovery, no surgical intervention is required, but Ciccone will need to observe a rest period of about two weeks.

"I'm speechless... I tried to fight to finish the stage because I hoped the hospital tests would tell me that tomorrow I would be at the start trying to fight for a stage victory in the last week, but I quickly understood that this was something serious because the pain was very strong and now we know why. It hurts to leave the Giro like this, especially with all the climbs still to face and the great team spirit we have, as well as leaving the good position I was holding in the general classification until this morning. Now I need time to recover, and we'll see how to plan the rest of the season".