'There is already something going on in the bunch' - Threat of illness after cold, wet Giro d'Italia stage 5 more concerning than 6:22 deficit for Visma-Lease a Bike

The peloton at the Giro d'Italia is reportedly grappling with a looming threat of illness following the arduous, rain-soaked Stage 5. Visma-Lease a Bike, in particular, has voiced concerns, with their general manager Merijn Zeeman stating that the health of their riders is a greater worry than the 6:22 deficit held by their GC leader, Cian Uijtdebroeks, to Tadej Pogačar. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, however, anticipates Visma will maintain Uijtdebroeks within striking distance of the *maglia rosa* ahead of the Blockhaus summit finish.

This concern isn't without precedent; the Giro, with its notoriously unpredictable weather, has often seen contenders succumb to illness, particularly in its early, gruelling stages. For Visma-Lease a Bike, still smarting from their disastrous Classics campaign marred by crashes and illness, this development is a particularly unwelcome echo. Their strategic focus appears to be shifting from immediate GC gains to simply keeping their primary rider healthy and in the race, a pragmatic approach given the long road ahead and the formidable presence of Pogačar.

Ultimately, the Giro’s early stages are less about who wins and more about who survives. Visma's current predicament suggests they understand this brutal reality better than most.