Giant-Alpecin pull out of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Giant-Alpecin will not contest Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on February 27, with the team still feeling the result of a crash which left six of its riders with injuries.

In an announcement on Twitter on Thursday, the team said they would would not be taking their place on the start line in Ghent next Saturday.

While training in Calpe, Spain, six riders were involved in a head-on collision with a car, leaving several riders, including double Monument champion John Degenkolb, in hospital with serious injuries.

With Degenkolb, Chad Haga, Ramon Sinkeldam, Max Walscheid, Warren Barguil and Fredrik Ludvigsson all out of action, the team suffered another setback when Classics stalwart Koen de Kort abandoned the Tour of Oman with knee discomfort.

Degenkolb suffered a broken hand and forearm, while Barguil suffered a broken scaphoid. Haga broke his eye socket, Walscheid his arm and leg and Sinkeldam his shoulder blade.

Giant-Alpecin are still scheduled to ride Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on February 28.