![\"Kelderman](\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/horizonWILCO.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEarly exit is a blow to Jonas Vingegaard\u2019s Giro hopes, costing the pink jersey favorite one of his most trusted mountain helpers. De Lie and Groves are also out. <\/p>\n
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Wilco Kelderman is out of the 2026 Giro and that’s bad new for Vingegaard. (Photo: Gruber Images)<\/p>\n
Updated May 12, 2026 04:54PM<\/p>\n
Just four stages into the 2026 Giro d\u2019Italia<\/a>, and Jonas Vingegaard<\/a> is already feeling the impact of crashes in the battle for the pink jersey.<\/p>\n The Dane is fine<\/a>, but three more riders abandoned Tuesday on the first stage on Italian roads, including Visma-Lease a Bike\u2019s Wilco Kelderman<\/a>, as well as sprinter Kaden Groves and all-rounder Arnaud De Lie.<\/p>\n Kelderman\u2019s exit is a significant blow to pink jersey favorite Vingegaard, who now loses one of his most reliable and experienced mountain helpers.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, it\u2019s a pity,\u201d Kelderman said in a team video. \u201cIf you have a big preparation, and then you have to leave you guys with a big goal. When you\u2019re a cyclist, you feel it.\u201d<\/p>\n The 35-year-old Dutchman was caught up in Saturday\u2019s stage 2 crash carnage in Bulgaria \u2014 the same horrific pileup that eliminated GC contenders Adam Yates<\/a> and Jay Vine and left Derek Gee-West bruised<\/a> and banged up.<\/p>\n Despite nasty cuts and scrapes, Kelderman finished both stage 2 and stage 3 before teammate Victor Campenaerts revealed late Tuesday that he had been racing on a fractured collarbone.<\/p>\n Details on the severity of the injury were not immediately available, but it was enough to end his Giro.<\/p>\n Kelderman spent time at altitude to prepare specifically for this race and was central to Visma\u2019s strategy to support Vingegaard in the brutal mountains of the closing week of this Giro<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really shit. We\u2019re going to miss Wilco the next coming days and weeks,\u201d Vingegaard said. \u201cBut it\u2019s the best thing to do. Health is the most important thing and we support that.\u201d<\/p>\n Teammate Tim Rex also crashed Saturday but remains in the race. Visma is now down to seven riders.<\/p>\n Cow manure sends De Lie packing<\/p>\n Things were already grim for other riders nursing wounds and illness, and Monday\u2019s rest day brought no relief.<\/p>\n Arnaud De Lie \u2014 who arrived to the Giro already sick from a bacterial infection<\/a> \u2014 abandoned Tuesday.<\/p>\n The 24-year-old Belgian reportedly ingested cow manure from road spray kicked up off wet roads during the Lotto Famenne Ardenne Classic two weekends ago.<\/p>\n In fact, De Lie\u2019s only win of 2026 came at the very race that made him sick.<\/p>\n \u201cFollowing the Lotto Famenne Ardenne Classic, he \u2014 like several other riders in the peloton \u2014 fell ill after ingesting bacteria from the road surface,\u201d the team confirmed. \u201cYesterday\u2019s rest day brought no improvement: De Lie did not recover sufficiently and is forced to leave this Giro d\u2019Italia due to illness.\u201d<\/p>\n De Lie was even spotted getting help from rival Visma compatriot Campenaerts during the stage before pulling out.<\/p>\n In what was his Giro debut, he never got the chance to race for what would be his first grand tour win.<\/p>\n Lotto Intermarch\u00e9 teammate Milan Menten, who arrived at the race a day late also due to stomach problems, vomited twice during Tuesday\u2019s stage and his participation in the Giro is in doubt, officials said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had hoped that Arnaud would get better after the rest day, but today he had a stomach problem again,\u201d said team director Pieter Vanspeybrouck told Sporza<\/a>. \u201cThe most important thing now is that he gets well again. We are not yet panicking for his upcoming goals at the Tour of Wallonia and the Tour. Today it also hung by a thread for Milan Menten. We will have to see tonight if it is wise to keep him in the Giro.\u201d<\/p>\n No chance for Groves<\/p>\n