ProTeam Gilbert, Degenkolb and Wellens to resume competition in Tour de Luxembourg
Philippe Gilbert and John Degenkolb, who crashed out in stage 1 of the Tour de France, as well as Tim Wellens, who crashed on training one week prior to the Tour, will all three start next Tuesday in the Skoda-Tour de Luxembourg, a UCI 2.Pro stage race from September 15th to 19th.
John Degenkolb: “It was a big shock for me to leave the Tour after one stage with both knees heavily impacted. I suffered from a contusion at both sides. A re-check, two days later, in the hospital of Frankfurt, confirmed that there were no fractures. The first week was very painful, especially because of the road rash, but I’m training already five days. I am extremely happy that I can resume competition much earlier than initially expected. My good condition will not be gone. I am quite confident. That Tour de Luxembourg will be perfect for the preparation of the rest of the season, especially the Binck Bank Tour and the classics.”
Philippe Gilbert: “In the end the patella fracture of my left knee was a re-opening of my old 2018 fracture. It’s a non-union fracture which didn’t cause much pain any more after a few days. That’s why I've started my training sessions quite early. Yesterday I did 4,5 hours. I really want to race. This season is already so short and I want to perform. The stage race in Luxemburg is ideal for me. Already in the Tour de Wallonie I saw that racing had such a fruitful effect on my condition. I aim for the same effect in Luxemburg. I missed the Tour, but there are still the classics. I am ambitious and very hungry.”
Tim Wellens, who was unable to start in Nice due to the serious injuries he sustained in a high-speed motor-pacing crash one week prior to the Tour: “I was off the bike for a week. But in the meantime I have been training for over a week. I am feeling good. Although of course I have to see how I will feel in competition. Luxembourg is ideal for that. I am preparing for the classics. After Luxembourg, first the Belgian Championship will follow and I am also motivated to do the Worlds in Imola. "
Selection Lotto Soudal Skoda-Tour de Luxembourg: Philippe Gilbert, John Degenkolb, Tim Wellens, Harm Vanhoucke, Tosh Van der Sande, Tomasz Marczyński