22/06/2023

"The verdict was clear: I was not ready to participate in the Tour" - Tim Wellens on bad form and Tour de France non-selection

Tim Wellens was signed to be one of Tadej Pogacar's new big domestiques and had done a brilliant job over the opening months of the season, however the injuries he suffered at the Tour of Flanders ultimately led to him not being selected to the Tour de France as he does not yet have the form.

“It's a pity, because I would have loved to be part of a team that competes for the overall victory in the Tour. During the recent altitude training on the Sierra Nevada, however, it was already clear that my lactate values were too high depending on the wattages I pedaled," Wellens admitted in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad. He returned to training on the road right about the same time as Tadej Pogacar and joined in him Spain a few weeks back, but unlike the Slovenian the feedback was not positive.

Tim Wellens out of Tour de France in blow for Tadej Pogacar

Wellens suffered a broken collarbone in 4 places in the mass crash that took place at the Tour of Slovenia, only in early May did he get operated for the final time. A strong domestique suited to Pogacar's explosive way of racing, UAE Team Emirates was keen on working with him to build the necessary form last minute, but there was no time for the Belgian to show his worth.

“However, the team wanted to see me at work in the Tour of Slovenia before taking the plunge. But I didn't reach the desired level there either. So the verdict was clear: I was not ready to participate in the Tour," he states. "I didn't have enough time to get back on track."

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There is no direct replacement for him, although Felix Grossschartner was not initially set to ride the Tour and is currently on the list. Internally, it is said the team already knows who has been selected, however that hasn't yet been made public. Wellens will rewire his focus on the final months of the season.

“Then there are still about twenty race days on my program, including three stage races. The Tour de Pologne, the Renewi Tour and at the very end the Tour of Guangxi, the Chinese stage race that I managed to win in 2017. In between I start numerous one-day races," he concluded.