Dwars door Vlaanderen: again a virus put a spoke in the wheel

For the 76th edition of Dwars door Vlaanderen five riders have called in sick. Once again, flu or some other virus seems to be the culprit. It is not the first time this spring that a lot of riders have to give up their ride. Earlier this month 18 have had to give up due to illness in Parijs-Nice. And after the Colbrelli collapsed at the finish line due to a ‘cardiac arrhythmia’ it seems the riders are being careful. 

"Any infection can give a heart infection. We regularly see athletes with myo- and pericarditis (an inflammation of the heart muscle or on the outside of the heart, respectively, ed) in recent weeks," Tom Teulingkx, president of the Association of Sports and Examination Physicians (SKA) told Sporza. 

"Rest remains essential, also in top athletes. There is not only corona, but nowadays also numerous other infections: flu, bronchitis, gastroenteritis. Vigilance and caution remain the message."

Dwars door Vlaanderen starts in Roeselare and finishes 183.9 kilometers and thirteen hills later in Waregem and is a final test before the Tour of Flanders to many riders, which will take place in four days. Once again, a virus put a spoke in the wheel. 

Israel-Premier Tech will be without Jenthe Biermans and Canadian Guillaume Boivin. Jordi Warlop is absent at B&B Hotels-KTM and Norwegian Sören Waerenskjold at UNO-X Pro. At Bahrain Victorius, Italian Jonathan Milan did not start.

"Jordi Warlop fell ill this night. We subsequently decided not to have him start today. Warlop is apparently not the only one who has to abstain," sport director Didier Rous announced before the start.

Norwegian Sören Waerenskjold is also ill. Israel-Premier Tech will only have three riders at the start in Roeselare. "I only got to five fit riders on Tuesday night at registration. This night Jenthe Biermans got sick. The doctor immediately banned him from the start. And then suddenly Guillaume Boivin came to the breakfast table with a thick hat on his head and the message that he did not feel good at all. Again, the verdict was swift. Sick and unable to start. It is hard to take. We try to keep morale high but it's no fun. Fortunately, the UCI gave us an exception to the rules and we can still start with three riders. Those are Sep Vanmarcke, the Canadian Hugo Houle with the Australian Taj Jones," sport director Dirk Demol reported before the start.

© BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND - Belgian Jenthe Biermans of Israel-Premier Tech pictured after a fall during the Grand Prix du Samyn