It has been already stated that Rigoberto Uran will not participate in the Ardennes classics this year as the Omega Pharma-Quick Step climber follows different racing programme as a build-up for the Giro d’Italia. Now it became absolutely clear, though, with the Colombian rider undergoing a heavy antibiotic treatment in order to kill helicobacter bacteria found in his stomach.

Uran’s racing programme will have to be adjusted once again due to the antibiotic treatment, which Colombian rider undergoes in his home country. Reportedly, the helicobacter bacteria recently found is his stomach prevented the Omega Pharma-Quick Step climber from dutifully playing a supporting role to Michał Kwiatkowski in Tirreno-Adriatico and living up to expectations as a sole leader in Volta a Catalunya.

“We have a bacterium found in the stomach,” the Omega Pharma-Quick Step manager Patrick Lefevere explained nieuwsblad.be, “It is the helicobacter which can lead to stomach ulcers.”

“Similarly as with Cavendish, we have given him a confidence and time to recover and continue his preparation for the Giro,” Lefevere continued, “As a result, he will miss the Ardennes classics. He receives a pretty heavy antibiotics.”

Even though there is still a possibility for Uran to ride the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia still remains his main objective for 2014.