The virus that sidelined some riders during the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes last week has also claimed victims in the week following the stage race. Kévin Vauquelin, riding for Netcompany INEOS, is suffering from it so severely that he will have to sit out this coming Sunday’s French championship.Vauquelin finished an impressive seventh in last year’s Tour de France and made the switch this winter from the smaller Arkéa team to Netcompany INEOS. Riding for his new team, he finished fourth in Paris-Nice, fifth in the Tour of the Algarve, and tenth in the Tour of the Basque Country.
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Oscar Onley was forced to withdraw from the Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes after dislocating his shoulder.
Vauquelin Struck by a Virus and a BacteriaNow Vauquelin himself has taken to social media to report that he, too, did not emerge from the race unscathed. “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to compete in the French championships. A virus and a bacterial infection, which I contracted during the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tour, are further weakening me.”
“The team and I have decided to skip the championships to prepare for the Tour de France,” said the Frenchman. “It was a difficult decision, but health comes first.” Defending champion Dorian Godon now has only Axel Laurance left as a support rider.
Who will be in Netcompany INEOS’s Tour de France team?Visma | Lease a Bike were the first to announce their Tour de France team on Tuesday, with UNO-X following soon after. But we are still waiting for details of the British outfit’s squad, especially who they plan to back for the GC now that Vauquelin is a doubt.Oscar Onley finished 4th at last year’s Tour de France, so it fits that the team would again support that young Brit this July. But after Onley’s crash at the Tour Auvergne-Rhone Alpes, his start is still in doubt.If Onley is declared fit, he will likely lead the team. In support we expect to see the experience of Michał Kwiatkowski, Filippo Ganna and Carlos Rodriguez, with Dorian Godon providing power on the flatter days. Youthful exuberance might come in the shape of AJ August, who started the year well. After a long and arduous ride at tge Giro d’Italia, where he just about hung onto 4th place, will we see Thymen Arensman step up as mountain support and back up leader?
We expect the team to be announced any day, but with injury concerns causing selection headaches, don’t be surprised if INEOS are one of the last to announce.