Cyclist Max Poole Drops Out of Vuelta a España and Sidelines from Future Competitions due to Epstein-Barr Virus Diagnosis

Picnic PostNL Faces Setback as Max Poole Withdraws from Vuelta a España

In a disappointing turn of events, Picnic PostNL has announced that Max Poole will be unable to participate in the upcoming Vuelta a España due to a diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and glandular fever. The Dutch cycling team made the announcement in a statement released on Wednesday.

Poole, who finished 11th overall at the Giro d'Italia earlier this year, had been experiencing a challenging preparation for the Vuelta a España. His struggles culminated in his decision to abandon the Tour de Pologne to undergo further investigations, which eventually revealed he has Epstein-Barr virus.

The cyclist's diagnosis was confirmed by Picnic PostNL's doctor, Camiel Aldershof. EBV can cause both long-term underlying issues and acute cases of glandular fever, also known as mono, which is what Poole is suffering from. As a result, he will need a longer period of rest to recover from his condition.

Rudi Kemna, Picnic PostNL's head coach, expressed his sympathies for Poole, stating that their focus is on looking after him and giving him the time and support he needs to recover fully. In his absence, Casper van Uden and Kevin Vermaerke will take over leadership roles for the Vuelta a España.

Picnic PostNL's line-up for the Vuelta a España is mainly composed of young riders, with the team set to chase stage results without their planned GC leader, Max Poole. This is a significant blow to the team, as Poole's teammate, Oscar Onley, finished fourth at the Tour de France this year.

Max Poole's fellow riders, Patrick Eddy, Chris Hamilton, Bjorn Koerdt, Gijs Leemreize, Juan Martinez, Timo Roosen, and Kevin Vermaerke will start for Picnic PostNL in Turin on Saturday, August 23.

It is worth noting that Max Poole is not the first cyclist to be affected by EBV. In 2017, Mark Cavendish also notably suffered with the virus, which derailed his season and carried the virus for several months.

The Vuelta a España, the final Grand Tour of the season, will be a challenging event for Picnic PostNL without their star rider, Max Poole. However, the team remains optimistic and is looking forward to the competition.

Cyclist Max Poole Drops Out of Vuelta a España and Sidelines from Future Competitions due to Epstein-Barr Virus Diagnosis