Christophe Laporte (Vimalies a Bike) will not start stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia as he has not fully recovered from his high-speed crash on stage 5.

European champion Laporte has been used as a replacement for Wout Van Aert, whose Giro debut was cancelled due to a crash at Dwars door Hlaanderen, but Laporte's first appearance in the race will only be for seven stages.

This morning, Visma Lease-a-Bike announced the Frenchman's absence, making him the second rider to miss the race after Robert Gesink left the race after the opening stage with a broken hand.

"Unfortunately, I must report that Christophe Laporte will not start today.

"He never fully recovered after his crash on stage 5. Together with his team, he decided to take a much needed rest. Get well soon, champ."

He became the 12th rider to abandon this year's Giro d'Italia, leaving 164 riders to start stage 8.

Laporte lost control of his bike on stage 5 when he hit a drainage ditch shortly after leading sprinter Olav Kooij into the intermediate sprint point.

Restarting in pain and suffering from bandaged road rash, Laporte struggled through the remaining stages of the day, as well as yesterday's gravel stage and time trial.

Laporte was supposed to serve as Cooey's last man in the sprint stages, but he was boxed in on stage 3, and after a strong leadout by Laporte on stage 4, the Dutch fastman was unable to catch Jonathan Milan (Ridltrek) He could only finish sixth and fourth in the flat stages.

With the loss of Laporte, Couey will be forced to hold onto Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) or Milan's wheels in the next sprint finish of the Giro, which could take place tomorrow in Naples, on a train that lacks explosiveness.

With Laporte and Gesink out of the race, last year's Giro-winning team is down to just six riders: Kooij, Sian Uitdebreuks, Tim van Dijk, Edoardo Affini, Jan Tratnik, and Attila Walter.

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