Philippe Gilbert to miss Tour de France with knee injury
Last Updated: 16/06/15 2:04pm
Former world champion Philippe Gilbert will not be part of the BMC Racing squad for next month's Tour de France.
Gilbert would have been among the favourites for one of the opening stages in the Netherlands and Belgium, but he has been diagnosed with a small fracture in his lower leg.
Team doctors believe the injury may have occurred during a fall at Fleche Wallonne in April, although Gilbert managed to continue competing and won a couple of stages during the Giro d'Italia last month.
He was unable to start the fourth stage of the Tour de Suisse on Tuesday morning and a statement from BMC Racing soon after confirmed Gilbert would be spending some time away from competition.
Their chief medical officer Dr Max Testa said: "The MRI showed a small fracture of the postero-lateral tibia head.
"The fracture is small, and not involving the joint articular surface and the injury is not worrisome for his cycling career. Philippe had no particular pain on the bike. But he had been complaining of knee discomfort, especially off of it, and especially going up and down stairs. So we decided to look into it."
Gilbert was understandably disappointed not to be able to race in the Tour, but said he would be able to return later in the year and go for some of the autumn classics and the World Championship road race in the United States, a race he won in the Netherlands in 2012.
He said: "Of course, I was motivated for the Tour because it is going to pass in a part of Belgium and there is also the nice finish on the Mur de Huy.
"But the Tour de France is every year. It is not like I am missing something like the Olympic Games. So every year you have a chance to do it and I have already done it a few times and have had a lot of success at this race already.
"Also, a big goal for me is always the worlds and Il Lombardia, which is one of the nicest classics of the season.
"I know with these problems, I can maybe go to the Tour, but not at 100 percent. Even if I do this, I will finish the Tour completely empty and that will mean I will do everything – the Tour and the end of the season – at 80 percent.
"So at this point, I have to make a choice to skip the Tour. My first objective is to feel healthy again and not feel the pain anymore."
