northoh the fateful massive fall in the semiclassic Through Flanders Former world champion Mads Pedersen plans to participate in the Tour of Flanders. His Lidl-Trek team announced on Thursday that the 28-year-old should start on Sunday in “De Ronde”.
However, his health will be closely monitored until then. Pedersen suffered bruises and abrasions in Wednesday's high-speed crash and had to retire from the race.
Those who were also among the favorites fell in the fall Wout van Aert and Jasper Stuyven involved. The two Belgians have already undergone surgery at 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 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 the progress of his recovery,” the team said. It would be possible for van Aert to change his mind and continue participating in the Tour de France.
Stuyven, runner-up in Ronde's dress rehearsal E3 award, was also diagnosed with a broken collarbone. Luxembourg champion Alex Kirsch, who also belongs to the Lidl-Trek team, broke a metacarpal and also underwent surgery.
The approval was given by the Eritrean Biniam Girmay, from his Intermaché-Wanty team. The 23-year-old escaped without a broken bone and is expected to take part in the Tour of Flanders.