Sep Vanmarcke's bad luck streak persists as he is forced to forfeit Paris-Roubaix

Israel - Premier Tech are having a very difficult season so far with illnesses affecting the performance of their leaders, as they risk being relegated to Pro Team level and not having automatic invites to World Tour races for the coming season. With the climax of the cobbled classics this weekend, their leader Sep Vanmarcke sees himself once again missing out on an important opportunity.

The team has said on a press release that "the Belgian has been recovering from a respiratory tract infection and although his recovery is progressing well, Sep will need more time in order to return to race condition." This come at the back of a spring that has seen many of the riders in the peloton affected by respiratory illnesses, of which Vanmarcke is another victim.

The 33-year old is no stranger to bad luck, having been struck with a series of badly timed injuries, illnesses and in-race crashes and punctures that have ruled him out at important points. This season was no exception as he's had to miss the opening weekend due to illness, and later missed on a crucial part of the preparation for the cobbled classics, in which he didn't have the form to be near the front.

He missed Tour des Flandres as the team suffered with a flurry of illnesses and Covid-19 cases, and now upon his final chance of succeeding in the cobbles, he finds himself in the worst possible position. He has added, "I am really sad to miss one of my favorite races of the year, Paris – Roubaix. It was a big goal for me. But I have to accept the situation and let my body recovery first from the illness I’ve had in the last weeks."

As the team prepare to announce their lineup, it is expected that Mads Würtz and Guillaume Boivin will be their main cards to play in the cobbles.