Besançon World Cup loses another big star as Michael Vanthourenhout skips due to illness

The reigning European and Belgian champion Michael Vanthourenhout's performance has been hampered by a fever that he contracted last weekend, which has prevented him from resuming his training regimen and will see him skip the final World Cup round in Besançon.

It is definite that he will not be competing in the Besançon World Cup on Sunday, and but will race the X20 Trofee in Hamme. Vanthourenhout mirrors the option of many riders who discard the World Cup racing as the standings are essentially consolidated, with him riding into second position.

Jurgen Mettepenningen of Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal informed WielerFlits about Vanthourenhout's situation. "Michael is still sick. Today he still did not train. Tomorrow he will try to train, and then we will decide.”

Vanthourenhout's fever is a major setback, as he missed the Benidorm last weekend and lost the overall World Cup title to Laurens Sweeck, and the World Championship is coming up next week.