Giro d’Italia 2023: Jan Tratnik withdraws from event following training accident, Team Jumbo-Visma confirm

Jan Tratnik has had to pull out of the Giro d’Italia following a training accident, his Team Jumbo-Visma have confirmed.

A team post on Twitter read: “Unfortunately we have to substitute a fifth rider at Giro d’Italia due to the traffic accident with Jan Tratnik earlier today. He will be replaced by the talented Tom Gloag.”

Jumbo-Visma’s provisional eight-man line-up for the first Grand Tour of the season has already seen Robert Gesink, Tobias Foss and Jos van Emden withdraw after they contracted Covid-19

Gesink and Foss both contracted the virus at the Tour de Romandie last week.

Van Emden and Rohan Dennis were drafted in to replace the duo, with the latter playing a key role in Tao Geoghegan Hart’s surprise Giro victory for Ineos Grenadiers in 2020.

The 38-year-old Van Emden would later test positive for Covid-19 and be replaced by Sam Oomen.

Speaking to Eurosport Norway, Foss said: “Missing the year’s big goal because of something you can’t control is incredibly annoying, but ultimately, something you can’t do anything about.

“It’s hard to miss the opportunity to be part of a team fighting for victory, but luckily there are new races and goals to stand out.”

Preparations for the Grand Tour have been far from ideal and follow on from the news of Wilco Kelderman’s withdrawal after crashing out of the Tirreno-Adriatico, with Sepp Kuss taking his place.

Dennis, Oomen, Kuss, Primoz Roglic, Edoardo Affini, Koen Bouwman, and Michel Hessmann are the other members of Jumbo’s team for the Giro.

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