"There are increasingly positive updates" - There is an expected return date for Tadej Pogacar's right-hand man

Tim Wellens crashed at Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne and suffered a fractured collarbone. On paper that would be a big setback for UAE Team Emirates - XRG and Tadej Pogacar, however the World Champion has won every race he's started this year so it hasn't come in the way. However, the Emirati team will have him returning to racing in the coming weeks already.

"There are increasingly positive updates on Tim but he certainly won't be at Paris-Roubaix this Sunday," team DS Fabio Baldato said in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad. "When you come back from an injury like his, racing on the cobblestones is never ideal." It ultimately cut his spring campaign almost fully.

At Strade Bianche and Tour of Flanders, the Slovenian won on his climbing ability. At Milano-Sanremo, the team was key to his triumph taking into consideration his crash before the base of Cipressa. "But if Tim had been there too, we would have had even more firepower". Taking into consideration the work Wellens has done over the past years for Pogacar, on flat roads and hilly terrain mainly, has been key for his results. His explosivity is also a perfect adapted to the World Champion's tactics and ability to launch multiple attacks.

The cobbled classics were quickly out of the plan for the Belgian champion who had the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in his schedule. Instead, he will be racing the Ardennes classics if his recovery continues in the same direction. His summer schedule will remain the same, and Flèche Wallonne could have him in the start list.

"Tim is already training hard, working on his condition. I hope we can field him at the 2026 La Flèche Wallonne and then also at the 2026 Liège-Bastogne-Liège. In any case, we will have to wait for the green light from our medical team."