Article | 28 July 2020, 18:51

Crash Leemreize big blow for Team Jumbo-Visma in first stage Burgos

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The first stage of the Vuelta a Burgos, the first race after the restart of the cycling season, didn’t go as planned for Team Jumbo-Visma as bad luck hit the squad. The team of sports directors Arthur van Dongen and Frans Maassen witnessed how Gijs Leemreize had to abandon the race after a heavy crash. Leemreize was transferred to the hospital where he has been operated successfully by a plastic surgeon on his damaged fingertip. Leemreize, who will make the transition from the Development team to the World Tour next year, is otherwise doing okay, given the circumstances.

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Finn Fisher-Black and George Bennett were also involved in the aforementioned crash. Until that disastrous moment, everything went smoothly for Team Jumbo-Visma. The team rode attentively in the front in the fast, nervous opening stage and the team leaders were well positioned for the final. On the difficult climb to the finish, Bennett was the team’s best ranked rider. He came in thirteenth.

Sports director Frans Maassen was mainly concerned about his young, talented rider. “Gijs and the entire team were doing really well until that crash. They all rode attentively in the front and both Gijs and Finn did a good job for the team. After the crash we had to regroup because George was also involved in the crash. In the final the plan was to go for a sprint with Timo, but unfortunately he had a puncture at seven kilometres before the finish. That is a pity, because he was very strong.”