Lidl-Trek newcomer Soren Kragh Andersen will miss out on classics campaign but his comeback is within sight after a successful surgery

Soren Kragh Andersen joined Lidl-Trek as a projected key component of the American team's strong classics lineup. However the 30-year-old Dane may not appear in any of them this year.

Instead, he recently underwent a surgery to remove a benign tumor in his scrotum. The procedure was successful, his employer informed about this in a press release. "Søren recently underwent a successful minor operation to remove a benign pseudotumor (a rare benign tumor, ed.) in his scrotum."

"Although he is currently unable to train on the bike, he has started swimming, running and strength training as he prepares to be able to train regularly on the bike again. Søren will probably miss the cobbled classics, but his delayed debut for Lidl-Trek is expected to take place in April."

"It is a great disappointment that I cannot be with the team for this important first part of the season, but the priority was to resolve this medical issue," the rider himself indicated in the press release. "There is still a lot of work to do to prepare for my debut for Lidl-Trek, but I am extremely motivated to get back in top form and support the team for the rest of the season."