Nicolas Roche’s Team Sunweb has confirmed that its leader Tom Dumoulin will not ride the Vuelta, which starts later this month.
Dutch media had reported a spokesman for Team Sunweb confirming
Dumoulin is not yet recovered from his Giro crash.
"The focus is currently on full recovery and the Vuelta comes too early," the spokesman told ad.nl.
Dumoulin crashed during the Giro, injuring his leg and
being forced out of the race. He was not recovered in time to ride the Tour de
France.
And while it was hoped he could come back for the Vuelta, and perhaps even target a stage win, that has now been ruled out.
Dumoulin had complications with his knee injury, with
debris being caught in it, necessitating surgery to remove particles of gravel.
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However, he has continued to suffer from an inflamed
tendon and damage to his knee cartilage
as a result of the crash and complications after it.
Dumoulin’s
absence from the Vuelta also calls into question his participation in the World
Championships next month.
And with the
Dutch star also rumoured to be unhappy with Team Sunweb and considering breaking
his contract to move to Jumbo-Visma, his season may already be over.
However, every
cloud has a silver lining and Dumoulin’s absence from the Vuelta may open the
door for Roche and some of his team mate’s at the Vuelta.
The Irish rider
has two Vuelta stage wins in his palmares and is a former overall leader of the
event.
He has spoken in the
past about how much he likes the Vuelta and may now get his chance to go on the
attack.
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