Visma | Lease a Bike lose two key riders - Only four remain at Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes after van Aert abandon and illness wreaks havoc
Cycling
Team Visma| Lease a Bike are down to just four riders for the final weekend of the Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes. First injuries took away star man Wout van Aert less than 24 hours after his stage win on Thursday, but it's now been confirmed that two riders are out with illness.
Jorgen Nordhagen and Per Strand Hagenes are on their way home after the team confirmed that the Norwegian pair felt unwell on Friday: "Unfortunately, Per and Jørgen will not appear at the start of the seventh stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Both riders showed symptoms of illness last night. We wish Per and Jørgen a speedy recovery," the Dutch team announced
The double blow leaves Matteo Jorgenson, in the battle for general classification, with just three riders in support for the final two stages. The brutal finale to the race is set to feature high mountains and climb finishes, including Saturday's Col du Grand Colombier.
Bruno Armirail, Eduardo Affini and Ben Tulett remain in support of the American, with only Tulett the only likely to survive deeper into mountain terrain to assist his leader.
Four riders remain for Visma
The news comes after van Aert didn't start stage 6, returning to Belgium for further examinations as his injuries were not healing correctly, spelling concerns for the team's Tour de France preparations.
Although Nordhagen and Strand Hagenes were not reported to be part of the July line-up, the pair had been in good form. Nordhagen sat 11th in general classification and demonstrated his ambitions by finishing the earlier team time trial behind Jorgenson. Meanwhile, Strand Hagenes won the Antwerp Port Epic last month in style, underlining his credentials as a classics option for the outfit.
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Cofidis are also hit with illness as Louis Rouland and Emanuel Buchmann were unable to continue on Saturday. Earlier in the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bahrain Victorious saw Matej Mohorič and Matevž Govekar out with illness, while Movistar also lost several riders, including Ivan Romeo, Jefferson Cepeda and Diego Pescador.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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