Quinten Hermans has been left out of the Tour de France, a shocking announcement from Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux who had in the 26-year old one of it's best cards to achieve success in France this July.
"At first I thought the call was coming to hear how I'm doing because we're leaving tomorrow and my flight was booked. But there was bad news. Would I have expected this? No, absolutely not. I thought I was a certainty, but at 5:30 p.m. I got a call from Aike Visbeek, our performance manager," Hermans told Sporza. He had finished second at Liège-Bastogne-Liège earlier in the season, but his place in the Tour was cemented after a stage win and third place at the Baloise Belgium Tour where he showed his best form.
The team however, had different plans. "The reason why I have to stay at home is not clear. But it certainly has nothing to do with sport. It is very unfortunate," he said. The reason being, although it is only assumed, is Hermans' likely move to rival team Alpecin-Deceuninck. He has already been rumoured to be changing outfits for 2023 and there is no other apparent reason why one of the team's top performers would be left at home after having perfect preparation for his Grand Tour debut.
"I was always a rider they liked to work with. I think it's weird that I would change the atmosphere when I don't have that feeling and I don't think the other riders either. They were also shocked," he concluded. Intermarché will have Alexander Kristoff and Taco van der Hoorn lead the team, but will be hunting stages with the likes of Taco van der Hoorn who will have similar ambitions to those Hermans would have.
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