Following medical tests carried out a fortnight ago, Acqua & Sapone rider Danilo Napolitano has been informed that the reason for his poor form is due to illness. The Italian has been diagnosed with cytomegalovirus, explaining why he has been feeling fatigued and had to retire from the Coppi & Bartali race.
The 30 year old Italian sprinter previously raced with LPR, Lampre and Katusha, and won a stage of the Giro d’Italia in 2007. More recently, he has picked up stage wins in races such as the Tours of Qatar, Poland and Luxembourg, the Four days of Dunkirk and the Vuelta a Andalucia.
His best performances this year have been second on a stage of the Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria, third on a stage of the Tour of the Mediterranean, and ninth in the GP Costa degli Etruschi.
Napolitano has been told that his condition is improving, however, and that he simply needs to be patient. He is scheduled to ride today’s Flèche Brabançonne, then the GP de Denain and the Ronde van Drenthe.
His Acqua & Sapone team has been invited to the Giro d’Italia; if he has fully recovered in time, he will be a valuable addition to the line-up.