Fabio Felline misses Ardennes Classics

Apr 13 2018 01:59 am CET

Trek-Segafredo

Trek-Segafredo's Fabio Felline has had to withdraw from the Ardennes Classics roster because he is still suffering from toxoplasmosis.The rider was diagnosed with the parasite last July during the Tour de France and recent tests have unveiled that he is still suffering from it. "Fabio has not felt right this season, and under his persistence, we decided to do a new series of blood exams," explained the team's Head physician Gaetano Daniele."They showed evidence that Fabio still has not completely recovered from the toxoplasmosis he suffered from last year. We took the advice of a couple infectiologists, experts in this field, and will start a specific treatment that will last for six weeks and that will hopefully permit to eradicate this parasite once and for all."Fellini has had a season with fluctuating form and after missing the cobbled classics, he is now out of the Ardennes as well. "I am so frustrated and sad not to be able to take the start in the Ardennes Classics," the rider commented. "Since I had to leave the Tour last year, I never found my level back that I had in the first part of the 2017 season. In the end, it seems that I have been struggling with this same, very stubborn parasite."I will be out of competition until the end of May. Unfortunately, it’s not the first time in my career that I have to fight back after setback, but I am motivated and will work hard to be back on my level as soon as possible and to come back even stronger than before."