On Sunday, three riders from Intermarché-Circus-Wanty were transported to the hospital following their crashes during the Tour of Flanders: Taco van der Hoorn, Biniam Girmay and Aimé De Gendt. Two days later, their recovery is evolving well and they could all leave the hospital.
Despite this encouraging development, the World Team is forced to head to Paris-Roubaix on Sunday April 9th without these three riders. These withdrawals are added to those of Adrien Petit (fracture of a phalanx) and Hugo Page (mononucleosis).
« 48 hours after his crash in the Ronde van Vlaanderen Biniam Girmay could leave the hospital in Kortrijk this Tuesday afternoon. Just like for Taco van der Hoorn his recovery from concussion is going well and no fractures were revealed in additional examinations. Both have to observe several days of rest in order to avoid long term effects of concussion. Also the recovery of their wounds will take some time. In case of Taco van der Hoorn it is a cut in the eyebrow arch, Biniam Girmay suffers from abrasions and contusions on his body and in his face. Both will resume sports step by step the next weeks. Also Aimé De Gendt could leave the hospital in Herentals Monday afternoon after a successful elbow operation. He will wear a plaster cast for ten days, after which he can resume training on the rollers. »
« The consequences of the crashes in the Tour of Flanders last Sunday were particularly hard for our team: three riders had to be transported to the hospital and will miss Paris-Roubaix. These encouraging signals about their recovery allow us to look ahead. Collectively, we were where we had to be on Sunday and Biniam showed that his condition is improving. Another positive point is that our young generation has performed brilliantly during the spring despite the many setbacks. On Sunday, Laurenz Rex and Dries De Pooter completed their first Tour of Flanders, following the better riders for a long time. » « In Roubaix, our young talents will again receive the opportunity to show themselves, following the absence of five strong elements of our initial selection due to injury or illness, namely Biniam Girmay, Hugo Page, Taco van der Hoorn, Adrien Petit and Aimé De Gendt. They will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience alongside Mike Teunissen and Baptiste Planckaert. I feel they are ready to take up this challenge. I remember Rex in this race a year and a half ago, when he convinced us to recruit him in our team. To chase good a result, we will have to exploit all our tactical options and certainly adopt an offensive behavior. »
