Jonas Vingegaard's depleted Tour de France team gets a much-needed boost ahead of Barcelona time trial
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Follow us on GoogleEdoardo Affini will be able to start the Tour de France as scheduled on July 4, Visma | Lease a Bike confirmed on Tuesday morning. The Dutch team had been waiting for just under a week to see how Affini was doing physically after he crashed hard during the Italian time trial championship.
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Visma | Lease a Bike was left in shock when Affini went down just 6 kilometers into the Italian time trial on Thursday June 25. The veteran rider slammed into the guardrail and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance.
No fractures were found, but a cut in his groin did require stitches. There were no other serious injuries, but since the crash occurred just a week and a half before the start of the Tour de France, the big question was whether Affini would recover in time.
The 30-year-old Italian had already sent a positive signal by hopping on his bike on Monday and uploading a training ride to Strava. The morning after that ride, Visma | Lease a Bike officially confirmed that Affini is cleared to travel to the Tour and is ready for the July 4 start in Barcelona.
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Affini to play a key role at Tour de France team time trial
It’s not surprising that Visma | Lease a Bike waited patiently for a decision regarding Affini. The Italian is a crucial player on the team for the Tour de France. “Edoardo is a big guy with a lot of power. He can practically carry a team leader in his back pocket,” said team manager Marc Reef.
Affini will be crucial for the team time trial on Day 1. Visma | Lease a Bike will be hoping that team leader Jonas Vingegaard can already make up some time in this discipline, and after the withdrawals of Wout van Aert and Christophe Laporte, the question mark next to Affini’s name was perhaps one too many.
Van Aert will be replaced by Davide Piganzoli, while the young Per Strand Hagenes will take over from Laporte. This gives Visma | Lease a Bike a strong lineup on paper, featuring Vingegaard, Piganzoli, Hagenes, Affini, as well as Victor Campenaerts, Matteo Jorgenson, Sepp Kuss, and Bruno Armirail.
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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