Giant-Alpecin pull out of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
With many of their riders out injured after a training ride collision with a car, Giant-Alpecin has been forced to pull out of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Giant-Alpecin will not contest Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on February 27, with the team still feeling the result of a crash which left six of its riders with injuries.
In an announcement on Twitter on Thursday, the team said they would would not be taking their place on the start line in Ghent next Saturday.
While training in Calpe, Spain, six riders were involved in a head-on collision with a car, leaving several riders, including double Monument champion John Degenkolb, in hospital with serious injuries.
With Degenkolb, Chad Haga, Ramon Sinkeldam, Max Walscheid, Warren Barguil and Fredrik Ludvigsson all out of action, the team suffered another setback when Classics stalwart Koen de Kort abandoned the Tour of Oman with knee discomfort.
Degenkolb suffered a broken hand and forearm, while Barguil suffered a broken scaphoid. Haga broke his eye socket, Walscheid his arm and leg and Sinkeldam his shoulder blade.
Giant-Alpecin are still scheduled to ride Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on February 28.
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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
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