Team Saxo Tinkoff gives Italian time to regain health
Team Saxo Tinkoff has had a setback as regards its lineup for Paris-Roubaix, with the squad being forced to rule out Daniele Bennati due to illness.
The Italian has been suffering symptoms of flu and these caused him to drop out of last Sunday’s Ronde van Vlaanderen. Still not recovered, he has consulted with his team, which has decided that he should return to Italy and refrain from racing until he gets well. Instead, the 24 year old Slovenian Marko Kump will compete instead in Sunday’s Classic.
“We have decided to bring Marko into the team for Paris-Roubaix instead of Daniele. Daniele was feeling really bad during Tour of Flanders, and as many other riders he has been greatly affected by the extreme weather conditions in some of the spring races and simply never felt he returned to his best form,” explained the directeur sportif Lars Michaelsen.
“Of course this is a tough decision for Daniele and for the team, but we also know it is the right one. Now he has returned home, and we have decided to give him a break from racing, until he is completely recovered. We know how strong he can be, when at his best, and we look forward to see him back at his top level.”
Bennati finished second in the GP Nobili Rubinetterie this year. Aside from being a multiple stage winner in the Grand Tours, the 32 year old has a solid history in one day races, winning the Giro del Piemonte in 2006 and 2008. He also finished second and sixth in Gent Wevelgem in 2011 and 2012.
The team’s lineup for Roubaix will comprise Matti Breschel, Matteo Tosatto, Jonathan Cantwell, Michael Mørkøv, Anders Lund, Christopher Juul-Jensen, Jonas Aaen and Kump.
Practically the same lineup will compete in Scheldepreijs tomorrow, with the exception of Kump.