Rome (AFP) - French rider Thibaut Pinot has been discharged from hospital but is suffering from a lung inflammation, his Groupama-FDJ team said on Sunday.

"This is what explains his high fever during the stage (Saturday) while he didn't have one in the morning," the French team said.

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Pinot saw his hopes of Giro d'Italia podium finish dashed on Saturday's penultimate stage. 

The Frenchman began the stage in third overall, but suffered a spectacular collapse and later withdrew from the race.

The 27-year-old started the 12 km-long climb to the Saint-Pantaleon pass among the main peloton, but crested the summit 21 minutes later and finished the stage 45 minutes in arrears.

He spent the night under observation in hospital.