Rafal Majka (UAE Team Emirates) has been forced to leave the Tour de France ahead of stage 17, following a strain injury incurred when his chain broke on stage 16 of the race in a blow to Tadej Pogacar‘s yellow jersey ambitions.
A statement from UAE Team Emirates on Wednesday afternoon read:
“Unfortunately Rafal Majka will not start stage 17 of the Tour de France today.Dr. Adrian Rotunno (Medical Director) : ‘Majka sustained a strain injury to his thigh after some mechanical trouble on stage 16 when his chain broke.
‘This resulted in a high-grade partial thickness tear of his right quadriceps muscle, and unfortunately due to the muscle damage is unable to ride.'”
Majka’s departure will be a marked blow to Pogacar’s bid for the yellow jersey, as the former Tour de France King of the Mountains winner and multiple stage winner was Pogacar’s key support rider in the mountains.
Following the departure of George Bennett on the second week of the race with a COVID-19 positive test, and allrounder Stake Vegard Laengen quitting the race in the first week, UAE Team Emirates now has a depleted team of 5 and little mountain support for team leader Pogacar.
Tim Wellens also leaves Tour
Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) is the latest rider to leave the Tour de France following a positive test, following a team announcement on Wednesday morning that he had tested positive following mild symptoms ahead of stage 17.
“Unfortunately Tim Wellens has to leave the race. After having mild symptoms this morning, a test showed he has covid,” the team’s twitter post read.
Wellens, who sat 140th in the general classification, was tipped by the team to be active on mountain stages and long breakaways, and no doubt would have seen the savage terrain of stage 17 and 18 as a ripe opportunity for an attack.
Wellens’ has won multiple Vuelta a Espana stages and has previously worn the polka dot jersey at the Tour, enjoying a 16-day stint in the jersey in 2019.
It comes after two AG2R Citroen riders left the Tour de France yesterday with positive COVID-19 tests.
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