UAE Team Emirates announced on Sunday that Fabio Aru will undergo an operation which will rule him out for at least three to four months.

That means the Italian will miss the Giro d’Italia as a “constriction of the iliac artery in his left leg” was revealed by tests on the twice Giro podium finisher.

“This relatively rare condition is found in professional cyclists given the position adopted on their bikes and can develop progressively over a period of several years,” said Dr Jeroen Swart, head of the medical staff of UAE Team Emirates.

“In the coming days, with a date to be determined based on the availability of the hospital, Aru will undergo angioplasty surgery at the Nuovo Ospedale di Prato, after which he will have to observe an absolute rest period of one month. For something like this, the

return time is estimated at three or four months.”

Not only does that sideline Aru for the Giro, which begins on May 11, but also the Tour of Catalunya taking place from March 25-31.

“From a certain point of view, I can only be relieved to have found the problem,” the 28-year-old said.

“On the other hand, I am angry about the bad luck that has fallen on me for the umpteenth time and that will force me to miss the Giro d’Italia again. I will work to try to put an end to this dark period as soon as possible.”