Quinten Hermans finished 7th in the World Cup round in Hoogerheide on Sunday afternoon, but was then told that he had tested positive for the corona virus. The Belgian team will travel to the United States on Monday, without Hermans.
And that is a serious downer for Hermans, whose World Cup chances had risen considerably in the absence of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. Hermans was also able to go to the US with confidence, because in October he won the World Cup cross in Fayetteville, next weekend also the setting for the World Cup.
“I rode a strong race in Hoogerheide, felt very healthy and ready to fight for the medals in Fayetteville,” says Hermans. “In the past weeks and months I have trained very hard and made a lot of sacrifices to get to the start in the best conditions.”
“With the team, we avoided as much risk of contamination as possible, for example by testing daily or by not being present at the collective training camp with Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux.”
“But on Sunday evening I was notified of the PCR test result and the door was slammed shut in front of me. I feel very powerless in this situation and will logically need some time to turn the knob.”
Hermans is replaced in the selection by first reserve Toon Vandebosch. Xaydee Van Sinaey, the Belgian junior champion, also tested positive on Sunday. She will not be replaced in the World Cup selection. Van Sinaey would also participate in the Team Relay in Fayetteville.
