After starting the Giro d'Italia strong, Wilco Kelderman's GC attempt ended in failure on stage 9. The Dutch rider placed part of the blame on disc brakes, reigniting the disc brake vs. rim brake debate.

Kelderman, who was fifth and seventh in the opening two Hungarian stages, lost contact with the main group on the final climb of the Brockhaus, where he lost more than 10 minutes.

The Beulah-Hansgrohe rider struggled on the steep 13.6 km climb, later citing back pain as the cause of his struggles, but it was mechanical problems that sent him to the back before the climb began.

Kelderman stopped twice on the descent from the Lanciano bridge and had to switch bikes. Apparently a spoke broke, which he claimed was caused by an overheated disc brake.

"On the last climb down, a spoke broke off the wheel. I think the disc brake got very hot and the spoke got warm," Kelderman explained to Dutch outlet AD (opens in new tab).

"It was a very fast downhill and the pressure broke the spokes."

The disc rotors are designed to increase in temperature under heavy braking and not overheat, but this has been cited as a problem by racers such as Chris Froome, who is reluctant to adopt the new technology.

When the climb up Brockhaus began, Kelderman was already well behind the pack.

"I had to change bikes twice and I was already exhausted before the climb started. I was exhausted before the climb even started. I had a sore back and it just wasn't my day. It sucks."

Kelderman was eliminated from contention for the overall win, but teammate Jai Hindley (who made the final podium of the 2020 Giro after a disputed final stage in which he competed as a DSM rider) took the stage win.

Kelderman, whose preparation for the Giro was hampered by a major crash and concussion in Liege-Bastogne-Liege, will now turn his attention to stage wins.

"Physically I'm okay now, but I have some pain. The time to come back was short. The first stage went well and people thought I was fine right away, but now it's just the beginning."

"I'm happy that Jai won and that the team is in good shape. The Giro is not over yet. We might still be able to win a stage. We just didn't prepare well. I wish it was good enough, but I know it's difficult. It's a shame. It is also a fair sport.