McEwen drops out of Giro

McEwen did not start Saturday's 218-km 13th stage from Alessandria to La Thuile and instead headed home to Belgium.

"Robbie had problems during yesterday's stage and still felt ill this morning and so it didn't make sense for him to carry on," Allan Peiper, McEwen's Davitamon-Lotto team director, told Reuters.

"We were hoping he'd be able to win in Brescia on Monday but we have to be happy with three stages victories."

McEwen was leading the points competition at the Giro d'Italia and won stages in Charleroi, Hotton and Forli.

The 33-year-old has won 11 stages at the Tour of Italy since 2002 without finishing the race.

He is expected to return to racing at the Tour of Switzerland on June 10.

McEwen's Australian compatriot Michael Rogers, the three-time world champion in the time-trial discipline, has also abandoned the Giro, complaining of a tooth ache since Monday.

"To continue the race doesn"t make sense, says the team doc. And to be honest: My body says the same," Rogers told the T-Mobile website.

"It got better for a short time, but on yesterday"s stage in particular I was in heavy pain again," Rogers said after struggling in stage 12. "On top of that, there was the nosebleed."

"Basically, you"re fighting a losing battle – especially when you have to tackle those leg-breaking climbs in the Giro"s final week."