A nagging health problem takes out the Belgian from the Tour de France pre-selection.
The 35-year-old Iljo Keisse, who has been instrumental in many of our team's successes in the first part of the season, won't join his six countrymen and Quick-Step Floors teammates for Sunday's National Road Race Championships, which will take place in Binche, due to a pleurisy that will sideline him for several weeks.
"I am really sad to miss the Nationals because of this pleura inflammation. This also means I won't be in the selection for the Tour de France anymore, which is really frustrating because I've worked hard to be in good shape for this part of the season and I was really motivated to be on the roster for July. Unfortunately, this is also part of a rider's life. I want to wish my teammates the best of luck in the upcoming weeks and I look forward to rejoining them", Iljo said after this frustrating setback.
Rest is the only therapy for the experienced Belgian, who will need to take three weeks completely off before resuming training.
Photo credit: ©Sigfrid Eggers
