After making it to Italy for the Giro’s first stage on its home roads, Trek-Segafredo have confirmed that Fabian Cancellara will ride on despite suffering from gastroeniritis.

“His condition is still not good,” Trek-Segafredo director Dirk Demol told Cyclingnews. “Recovering from what he had is difficult, especially with the heat, it's 27 degrees all day. When you already have problems, it’s not the best way to recover. He is far from 100 per cent.”

He was really bad on Saturday, but Demol says the idea of not starting on Sunday never crossed the superstar’s mind. He hopes to be fit to try and win the stage nine time trial.

“It never came up, not even on Saturday. A few days ago he had fever, diarrhea. He was disappointed. He made no secret that he was focused on the time trial, because it was the only leader's jersey he has never worn in a Grand Tour. He took a week off after Paris-Roubaix and had been preparing ever since for the first stage of the Giro here in Holland."