INEOS suffer another potential Tour de France blow - Vauquelin suffers virus and a bacterial infection as decision made

Netcompany INEOS are facing yet another Tour de France headache after it was confirmed that co-leader Kevin Vauquelin suffered a virus and bacterial infection. The French rider, therefore, will not be starting the National Championships this week as both he and the team focus on recovery ahead of the Grand Boucle.

Pegged to arrive at the Barcelona Grand Depart on July 4th as co-leader alongside Oscar Onley, Vauquelin will be hoping he can shake off illness in time to be ready for the Tour. however, the news will not be welcomed by INEOS or Director of Racing Geraint Thomas.

The Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes saw Vauquelin pick up the infection, and was also the scene of a worrying moment for the team. Co-leader Onley suffered a crash on the sixth stage and nearly suffered a catastrophic fall - with a tree saving him for a deep fall after coming off the road on a descent.

“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to compete in the French championships," Vauquelin said on social media.

"A virus and a bacterial infection, which I contracted during the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Tour, are further weakening me. The team and I have decided to skip the championships to prepare for the Tour de France. It was a difficult decision, but health comes first."

Onley returned to team camp just a few days after his crash, but Onley's preparation and recovery is unclear. The team now face a race against time to prepare their team leaders as they aim to compete for the podium next month.

"I think it was a left-hander, he just overshot slightly," director of racing Geraint Thomas told Cyclingnews about Onley's crash. "We’re staying positive. It could have been much worse."

The crash was not caught by any of the television cameras, so further details come from Onley's rescuers, in particular Team Visma | Lease a Bike DS Frans Maassen.

"We only saw his bike, and a few meters further on, we looked into a very deep ravine. It must really have been one of the last trees he ended up in," Maassen shared with Wielerflits.

"Our men from the team car, together with people from the organization, were able to very carefully hoist him back up from that tree. In that regard, he was incredibly lucky. It could have ended much worse."