He has no words, we don't either. Giro curse, this is clear to everyone, especially to Giulio Ciccone, who has been chasing this race forever, but it constantly slips away.

Luca Guercilena, the Lidl-Trek team leader, is also speechless, who had consoled himself with an endless series of victories and hoped to bring the Abruzzo rider to a top ten finish in a Grand Tour, but the fall in the Gorizia stage left a deep mark on his right thigh, which became marble, and then lead.

"I have no words" - said Cicco in those days, in those hours -. "I tried to fight to finish the stage because I hoped the hospital tests would show it wasn't serious and that I could recover to try to fight at least for a daily success, but I immediately understood it was something serious because the pain was too intense. Now, given the double muscle injury found, we know why. It hurts to leave the Giro like this, especially with the climbs still ahead, the great spirit in the team and the good position in the standings".

The hospital tests in Gorizia are the most bitter sentence: "Giulio underwent ultrasound and x-rays - reads the team statement -. The tests confirmed a significant hematoma in the lateral vastus muscle of the right quadriceps, along with a small muscle fascia injury. His conditions will not allow him to continue the Giro. Surgery will not be necessary, but a rest of about two weeks".

From his Giro, only images of Giulio in pain on the sidewalk remain. The right leg stiff, rigid, not moving, because the muscle emits electrical current.

"A crazy pain, for a trivial hit - he will later recount -. I did everything to continue my journey, but I was clearly told it wasn't advisable".

Chance, fate, Lady Luck who constantly turns away and doesn't want to know about Giulio, who only receives disappointments. Just remember the Vuelta 2024 episode, when he was forced to withdraw due to a fall caused by a deer crossing the road. And what about his recent Giro d'Italia history: in 2021, 6th in the standings five stages from the finish, a fall forced him to withdraw after some fever lines had also appeared during the night. As for 2023 and 2024, Ciccone had always included the Giro in his plans, but two years ago he had to give up due to Covid, while in 2024 he had to undergo surgery for a perineal cyst.

"A curse? Maybe, but I want to return to the Giro, to try to leave my mark", Giulio proposes again.

"He's tough, we know him well, now a few weeks of rest and then off to the Vuelta project, to be at his best for the World Championship in Rwanda". Luca Guercilena believes, Giulio too, as long as Lady Luck doesn't get distracted again.