MADRID, 20 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar, of the UAE-Team Emirates, will not be able to count on one of his best squires for the Pyrenean stages of the Tour de France, such as the Polish Rafal Majka, who had to leave due to a muscle injury suffered on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, Rafal Majka will not start stage 17 of the 2022 Tour de France this Wednesday,” confirmed the UAE before the start of the day that will culminate in the final uphill at the Peyragudes ski resort and with ascents also to Col d’Aspin, the Hourquette d’Ancizan and the Col de Val Louron-Azet.
According to the team’s medical director, Doctor Adrian Rotunno, Majka suffered “a strain injury to his thigh after a mechanical issue on stage 16 when his chain broke”. “This resulted in a high-grade tear of the right quadriceps muscle and, unfortunately, due to muscle damage, he cannot ride the bike,” he stressed of Majka’s mishap, who reached the finish line with 14 minutes lost compared to the winner and eight respect to the Pogacar group.