Bronchitis knocks Gerdemann out of Worlds

Linus Gerdemann wanted to use the Vuelta a España to prepare for the World Championships, and on stage 10, the Milram rider launched a promising attack. But it turned out to be the end of his plans for both races.

Everything was going according to plan, he told Cyclingnews on Tuesday afternoon. “With my attack on the 10th stage, I wanted to test my form, and everything looked quite promising. But this day could not have ended more unluckily for me.”

Alone in the lead, Gerdemann flatted on the descent of the day's only climb. The neutral service technicians gave him the wrong tyre, and he subsequently crashed on the next curve.

"First I had the flat front wheel, and then I even crashed. It was all quite disappointing," he said, especially as the stage win looked to be his.

Things didn't get better. "Since the crash, I was in a lot of pain, and had to abandon the Vuelta. Now I have come down with bronchitis and can't do anything at all."

The sickness has knocked him out of the worlds, scheduled for September 23 to 27 in Mendrisio, Switzerland.  He was left off of the German team, at his own request.

Gerdemann can't train for the next few days because of the antibiotics. "That is, of course, too bad, because I was highly motivated for the worlds. But I will miss at least one week of training, and that in the absolute preparation time for the Worlds."

Riding the worlds wouldn't have any point, he concluded "if I could neither do anything myself nor be a good support for my teammates."