Cyclist at centre of Giro 'selfie' storm withdraws due to illness

Marcel Kittel, the winner of successive stages in Belfast and Dublin, has today abandoned the Giro d’Italia before the resumption in Italy due to illness.

Kittel, who had his photo taken by Corkman David McCarthy while he lay prone moments after his winning finish on Sunday, did not start the 112-kilometre fourth stage from Giovinazzo to Bari in southern Italy following yesterday’s transfer day from Ireland due to a fever.