Sep Vanmarcke (Garmin-Barracuda) is having his knee checked out at a Waregem hospital today, after injuring it in a crash in yesterday’s GP de Denain.
Vanmarcke was able to finish the race, coming across in 100th place, in a large group 1 minute 13 seconds behind winner Juan Jose Haedo (Saxo Bank). But after coming down in a corner, the Belgian was experiencing a lot of pain and stiffness in the knee after the race.
Vanmarcke will be replaced by Alex Howes on the Amstel Gold roster for Garmin-Barracuda. Howes is coming off of a solid sixth place finish in the Brabantse Pijl race on Wednesday.
Vanmarcke has been Garmin-Barracuda’s revelation during the Classics after beating Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) in a sprint to win Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in February.
Garmin-Barracuda for Amstel Gold Race:
Thomas Dekker, Ryder Hesjedal, Michel Kreder, Raymond Kreder, Dan Martin, Johan Van Summeren, Fabian Wegmann
Hoogerland fighting a sore throat
After racing in the rainy Brabantse Pijl on Wednesday, Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil-DCM) came down with a sore throat, but the illness is not expected to affect his participation in Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race.
“If I rest a lot the next few days, everything will be okay,” Hoogerland said, according to Het Nieuwsblad. “I believe in my chances. I had good preparation in the Basque Country.”
It could be an all-out assault on the Ardennes Classics for the Dutch team, who could capitalize on the lack of form of several of the would-be heavy favourites, such as Phillippe Gilbert and the Schleck brothers.
Hoogerland, who was 12th in Amstel Gold last year, should be one of several leaders for Vacansoleil-DCM on Sunday. Along with Hoogerland’s top five in Tirreno-Adriatico this year, the team also sends Lieuwe Westra, who is in the middle of a breakout season after taking the second spot in Paris-Nice.
Vacansoleil-DCM for Amstel Gold Race:
Matteo Carrara, Wout Poels, Johnny Hoogerland, Bertjan Lindeman, Pim Ligthart, Marco Marcato, Rob Ruygh, Lieuwe Westra
Ag2R-La Mondiale racing with seven in Amstel Gold
After suffering a crash in Paris-Roubaix, Frenchman Steve Houanard (Ag2R-La Mondiale) has been forced out of the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday. Houanard has a sprained wrist, as well as bruising on his knee and abdomen. He is also suffering from gastroenteritis.
The 26-year-old is winless in three full years as a professional, the first two completed with the Dutch team Skil-Shimano.
His current team plans on Houanard making his return to racing in the Tour of Turkey on April 22.
In the meantime, Ag2R-La Mondiale goes into the first of the Ardennes races a man down, without a replacement for Houanard as of yet. Rinaldo Nocentini and Christophe Riblon will likely lead the squad.
Ag2R-La Mondiale for Amstel Gold Race:
Julien Berard, Romain Bardet, Mikael Cherel, Martin Elmiger, Ben Gastauer, Rinaldo Nocentini, Christophe Riblon
Surgery for Arnold Jeannesson
Arnold Jeannesson (FDJ-BigMat) underwent surgery in a Challans hospital on Thursday, to repair a bursitis in his knee. He is now at home and is faced with at least a week off the bike, before he will begin preparing for the Tour de France, where he finished 14th overall last year.
After taking sixth overall in Paris-Nice in March, Jeannesson went to the Tour of the Basque Country, but could not start the stage six time trial due to swelling in the knee.
The French team left the Basque Country in poor shape, with Sandy Casar, Thibaut Pinot, and Anthony Roux all sick. FDJ-BigMat team is now also listed a man short for Amstel Gold, two days out from Sunday.
FDJ-BigMat for Amstel Gold Race:
Geoffrey Soupe, Steve Chainel, Arnold Geraud, Cedric Pineau, Anthony Roux, Benoit Vaugrenaud, Arthur Vichot