Bad news for the Italian national team: Giulio Pellizzari is dealing with a flu attack that has hit him with fever and vomiting and will therefore be forced to decline his national team call-up, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport. The cyclist from Marche would have been set to leave tomorrow for Rwanda with his national teammates. It is likely that Gianmarco Garofoli will be called up in his place: a definitive decision will be made in the next few hours.

Contacted in Kigali, team coach Marco Villa comments laconically: "I spoke with Giulio, and he sounds very down, very disappointed. I don't exactly know what kind of illness he has caught, but certainly he cannot be with us. And obviously, I'm very sorry because I was convinced he would have had a great world championship."