Winner in 2020 and runner-up in 2022, this year's edition of Antwerp Port Epic won't write another good chapter in Gianni Vermeersch's story as the Belgian was forced to abandon the Belgian 1.1 race early due to a hard crash that caused bleeding in his left elbow area, coming with that didn't bode with continuing the race.
Vermeersch was brought for an examination in hospital in Antwerp, where a scanning revealed that besides a deep cut, there was also a small fracture in Belgian's elbow, his team Alpecin-Deceuninck informs in X post.
The 31-year-old Vermeersch had one of the better springs of his career, assisting Mathieu van der Poel in Tour of Flanders Paris-Roubaix success, while finishing 6th himself. Vermeersch was also present to Jasper Philipsen's victory at Milano-Sanremo. However best personal result for the Belgian was third place at Tour de Romandie stage 1 where he arrived third in a bunch sprint.
Key member of van der Poel's spring success, Vermeersch was scheduled to complete more races in Belgium in run-up to the National Championships. But now he'll have to take at least a week's worth of rest before his next plans will be reassessed.
Setback for @GVermeersch in #antwerpportepic. A crash not only spoiled his race, examination at Antwerp's Jan Palfijn hospital revealed a cut and a small fracture in the elbow. After flushing and suturing, Gianni was prescribed a week of rest and a sling. #alpecindeceuninck
