‘Sickener for Astana’ – Miguel Angel Lopez chalks up another DNF at Giro d’Italia on Stage 4

Updated 10/05/2022 at 14:08 GMT

Astana Qazaqstan still have realistic GC ambitions with Vincenzo Nibali, Fabio Felline and Valerio Conti, but Miguel Angel Lopez was the man many expected to make a push after his swift exit from Movistar last year. Lopez has now failed to finish four of his last five Grand Tours, including the 2021 La Vuelta, where he climbed off his bike on the penultimate stage as his top-three hopes vanished.

Miguel Angel López

Image credit: Getty Images

Miguel Angel Lopez’s miserable run at Grand Tours continued as he abandoned the Giro d’Italia on Stage 4.

Lopez (Astana Qazaqstan) arrived in Italy on the back of DNFs at last year’s Tour de France and La Vuelta, the latter seeing him quit with just 20km remaining on the penultimate stage as his podium dreams unravelled.

“That’s a sickener for Astana,” said Rob Hatch on Eurosport commentary as news filtered through about Lopez’s latest withdrawal.

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The Colombian was 34th in the general classification ahead of Tuesday’s trip up Etna, 53 seconds off race leader Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix).

"Unfortunately, Lopez had to abandon shortly after Stage 4 started. During the last few days he was suffering from left hip injury," said Astana Qazaqstan in a statement.

Lopez's team-mate Vincenzo Nibali remains Astana’s best-placed rider in the GC battle, with the ‘Shark’ in 12th, 30 seconds back. Astana can also take comfort from the fact Fabio Felline and Valerio Conti are also in the top 30.

After his Vuelta tantrum, Lopez was swiftly carted out of Movistar, with Astana offering him a lifeline.

He last finished a Grand Tour in 2020, finishing sixth at the Tour de France, and has now failed to complete four of his last five outings over three weeks.

Lopez, dubbed ‘Superman’ by his supporters, was bidding to join an illustrious group of riders to win a stage at all three Grand Tours.