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Nibali’s season debut delayed as illness strikes in Argentina

Ben Perry top Canadian as Gaviria wins first stage of Vuelta a San Juan

Vincenzo Nibali was supposed to begin his road to the Tour de France with Sunday’s first stage of the UCI 2.1-rated Vuelta a San Juan Internacional in Argentina, but Bahrain-Merida’s ace, who had 2017’s second-best Grand Tour showing with third in the Giro d’Italia and runner-up in Vuelta a España, did not start after being struck down with illness. Last season Nibali was eighth in the Vuelta a San Juan.


Nibali and new Ukrainian teammate Mark Padun were hit with gastroenteritis, leaving the squad shorthanded for the seven-stage race.

Fernando Gaviria (Colombia), Quick Step’s sole sprinter now that Marcel Kittel has moved on to Katusha, collected his third career Vuelta a San Juan victory and sixth career win in Argentina. In 2015, it was Gaviria’s two clippings of none other than Mark Cavendish at Argentina’s Tour de San Luis that got the Colombian signed to Quick Step.


There are three Canadians riding in the race: Ben Perry and Guillaume Boivin of Israel Cycling Academy, a team still tickled about being named as one of the Giro wildcards, and UnitedHealthcare’s Alexander Cataford. Ben Perry was top Canadian on Sunday, placing 23rd in the bunch sprint.


Nibali is scheduled for Milan-San Remo, Amstel Gold, La Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Critérium du Dauphiné on his way to the Tour de France. He will also contest the Vuelta.