Recurring injury takes out two-time German champion
Team Milram’s Fabian Wegmann was forced to abandon the Giro d’Italia early on Sunday due to a recurring injury. The German, who came back from a collarbone fracture in Tirreno-Adriatico to win the Eschborn-Frankfurt this month, was suffering from severe back pain. He re-injured his back during the team time trial on Wednesday, an injury which hampered him much of last season and through the winter.
“This is very bitter for us. Fabian is always good for a stage win,” said Milram sports director Christian Henn. “He had such big plans for the Giro d’Italia. After his win in Frankfurt he was highly motivated and confident. He will fly as soon as possible to Freiburg, where he will undergo examinations.”
Losing the two-time German champion is a big loss for Germany’s ProTour team. The squad is tasked with finding a replacement sponsor for Milram at the end of the season. Team boss Gerry van Gerwen has said he is positive about a new sponsor, but will give no official word until the second rest day of the Tour de France.