Two crashes in Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix have put a temporary stop to the spring campaign of two-time Ronde van Vlaanderen winner Stijn Devolder of Quick Step. An injury to his left knee, sustained in one of those crashes, means that the former Belgian champion will be watching tomorrow’s Brabantse Pijl race on the TV.
''In the [Sunday] evening I could hardly stand on it,” said Devolder to Het Nieuwsblad, “and actually it was no different on Monday. My left leg is swollen from top to bottom; there is also blood in the joint; I must have had a serious knock. I also hurt my right knee and that is swelling; compared to the other though, it’s peanuts."
Wednesday’s race has been scratched from Devolder’s programme, and he will also likely sit out the big race of the weekend. "I won’t be riding the Brabantse Pijl,” he confirmed. “I hope I can resume training in a few days. I reckon I won’t be at the Amstel Gold Race.”
While he will probably miss the biggest one-day race on the Dutch calendar, Devolder is confident that he will be fit again for the next monument of his native Belgium. “Liege-Bastogne-Liege, however, is not in danger," Devolder confirmed.
Despite winning the Ronde van Vlaanderen in two successive years, Devolder has been under pressure from team manager Patrick Lefevere for his lack of other results. This enforced layoff from one of the last big Flemish races of the spring is likely to add further pressure.
His place in Quick Step’s team for Brabantse Pijl will be taken by Frenchman Jérôme Pineau.