ProTeam No Tour de France for Tim Wellens

Tim Wellens will not be able to start next Saturday in the Tour de France due to the serious injuries he sustained in a motor-pacing crash last Friday. Wellens suffers from road rash and deep wounds all over the body, especially on right shoulder, elbow and knee. No fractures were diagnosed but, for the Tour, there is not enough time left to recover from the high-speed crash. Wellens will be replaced by Frederik Frison.

“It is hard to describe how disappointed I am. This is one of the worst crashes I’ve ever experienced on the bike,” tells Tim Wellens. “I was training behind the scooter when both motor bike and I were surprised by a bump on the road. The scooter managed to avoid the crash. I couldn’t. I was so surprised that I had no time to brake. The road rash is so deep because of our high speed. As I have injuries on big parts of my body, I have a higher body temperature and I cannot sleep well. This can never be healed in less than a week. Moreover, further recovery in the Tour de France is really impossible. In that race every stage is like a world championship.”

“This feels so bad. I was ready for the Tour. My goal was to win a stage. Especially the first stages suited me - tough stages in a region that I know so well. I did many times a recon of the stages to Nice, Sisteron and Orcières-Merlette.”

Last year Tim Wellens wore 15 days the polka-dot jersey in the Tour de France.

The Tour de France squad: Steff Cras, Jasper De Buyst, Thomas De Gendt, John Degenkolb, Caleb Ewan, Frederik Frison, Philippe Gilbert and Roger Kluge. 

Lotto Soudal leaders Caleb Ewan, Philippe Gilbert, John Degenkolb and Thomas De Gendt will be available for the press on Wednesdag 26 August at 4 PM. More details to follow.