Strade Bianche podium finisher Maxim Van Gils (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) will not be again to try to higher his third place from final season as a “feverish an infection” has saved him out of coaching and compelled him to overlook the Italian Classic.
His new crew for 2025, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, introduced that the Belgian wouldn’t be on their seven-rider roster for Saturday’s race on the white roads of Tuscany, as he wants time to recuperate forward of later objectives on the Ardennes in April.
“On Saturday, Strade Bianche will write its subsequent chapter. But one key protagonist can be lacking from the Tuscan spectacle this yr: Maxim Van Gils, who delivered a shocking efficiency to succeed in the rostrum final yr, gained’t have the ability to repeat his success,” learn an announcement from the crew.
“A feverish an infection has sidelined him, forcing him to overlook essential coaching days. Health comes first – Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe is giving Maxim the time he wants to completely recuperate and return to prime type.”
Van Gils was attributable to begin the 213-kilometre race as one of many favourites, alongside former winners Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), after his spectacular show to take third final yr.
In his absence, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe nonetheless have a robust crew, nevertheless it maybe lacks the punch that their headline new signing for this season would have offered.
“The crew is fielding 4 debutants: Roger Adrià and Tim Van Dijke are heading straight from the Opening Weekend to Tuscany, whereas Filip Maciejuk and Toni Palzer may even tackle the white gravel for the primary time,” stated Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
“Experience comes within the type of Gianni Moscon and Jan Tratnik – each final raced right here in 2022. And for Jonas Koch, it’s a particular second: after his crash on the Volta ao Algarve, he makes his comeback.”
Van Gils has already had some dangerous luck since he made the bounce throughout the Red Bull, crashing out of his season debut at Etoile de Bessèges in a weird incident when a automotive received on the course.
He then returned with robust type on the Vuelta a Andalucia in February together with his first stage win for the German crew and fourth place on GC on the Spanish stage race.
Speaking to Cyclingnews earlier than his return in Andalucia, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have been uncertain of what his programme would appear to be in spring, with a doable look at Tirreno-Adriatico – which begins two days after Strade Bianche – now trying unlikely.
Whichever path Van Gils takes, nonetheless, his massive objectives have been all the time on the Ardennes trio of Classics: Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Batsogne-Liège.
“There continues to be slightly little bit of a dialogue to finalise his programme after lacking some racing days, however all the pieces is targeted on the Ardennes,” Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe Chief of Sport Rolf Aldag advised Cyclingnews.
“He was third in Flèche and never far off the rostrum in Liège [fourth], so clearly, these are the large objectives for him to start out with.”
