Italy's Davide Rebellin is likely to leave the Giro d'Italia after it passes the night near his home in Veneto. The 36 year-old had aimed for a stage win, but has struggled to find the same form that saw him perform well in the Ardennes Classics.
"I am content," Rebellin said to Cyclingnews of his Giro d'Italia thus far. The rider known as 'Tintin' captured his first big professional win in the Giro d'Italia; he won a stage in the 1996 edition and spent six days in the race leader's maglia rosa.
"I was trying to win a stage, but my condition is not the same as it was in the Classics. Here there are riders who have prepared especially for his Giro, so it is even more difficult."
It is likely that Rebellin will not take the start in Verona as the corsa rosa heads into its first high-mountain stage, the 195 kilometre journey to Alpe di Pampeago. "I believe that I won't start tomorrow," he revealed. "I think that I will make a decision whether or not I will continue today. The mountains are too hard for me and I hope to save a little bit of energy for the next appointments, like the Olympics and Worlds."
However, Rebellin left stage 13 impressed. "There were a lot of people, everyone knows me here because I train in this area. They are very crazy for cycling here."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
