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. On Thursday afternoon, his Visma-Lease a bike team confirmed that the 29-year-old had also broken his sternum. His planned participation in the Giro d’Italia in May is unclear. “We will decide this in the coming weeks based on his recovery progress,” the team said. It would be possible that van Aert would change his mind and still take part in the Tour de France.
Stuyven, second in the Ronde dress rehearsal E3 prize, was also 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.
