After the disastrous mass fall in the semi-classic Across Flanders, former world champion Mads Pedersen is planning to take part in the Tour of Flanders. His team Lidl-Trek announced on Thursday that the 28-year-old should start at “De Ronde” on Sunday.
However, his health will be closely monitored until then. Pedersen suffered bruises and abrasions in the high-speed crash on Wednesday and had to withdraw from the race.
Wout van Aert and Jasper Stuyven, who were also among the favorites, were involved in the crash. The two Belgians have already been operated on in the Herentals hospital and will be out for several weeks.
Van Aert suffered a broken collarbone and several broken ribs. His Visma-Lease a bike team did not confirm a broken sternum that was reported in the Belgian media. It remains questionable whether the 29-year-old will take part in the Giro d’Italia in May this year as planned or will change his mind due to the injuries and start in the Tour de France.
Stuyven, second in the Ronde dress rehearsal E3 prize, was diagnosed with a broken collarbone. The Luxembourg champion Alex Kirsch, who also belongs to the Lidl-Trek team, broke a metacarpal bone and also underwent surgery.
Published/Updated: Recommendations: 5 Tom Mustroph, Sanremo Published/Updated: Recommendations: 5
The all-clear was given by Eritrean Biniam Girmay from his team Intermaché-Wanty. The 23-year-old escaped without any broken bones and is expected to take part in the Tour of Flanders.
