Widar ruled out of Ardennes Classics as knee injury lingers

Lotto–Intermarché confirmed on Tuesday that the 20-year-old will not line up at the Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne or Liège–Bastogne–Liège. These races should have been the highlight of his first spring as a professional.

"The injury continues to cause problems, meaning Jarno cannot go all out," the team said. "To promote recovery, he is not allowed to cycle for a while."

The knee issue stems from a training crash and has been bothering Widar for several weeks. He had already been forced to withdraw from the GP Miguel Indurain and the Itzulia Basque Country, and the decision to pull him from the Ardennes suggests the problem is more stubborn than first hoped.

It has been a fragmented start to life at WorldTour level for Jarno Widar. The Belgian made an immediate impression with fourth place at the Figueira Champions Classic and a solid showing at the Volta ao Algarve in February, but has not raced since abandoning the Faun-Ardèche Classic due to illness later that month.

It puts an end to what should have been a spring perfectly suited to him on paper, with the Ardennes classics starting Sunday at the Amstel Gold Race, followed by La Flèche Wallonne and Liège Bastogne Liège.

It also means a head to head with his French contemporary Paul Seixas will not materialise, despite having beaten him several times at under 23 level.

It is another setback for Lotto–Intermarché, who have endured a difficult run with their leading riders. Arnaud De Lie was forced to miss the Tour of Flanders through illness, while Lennert Van Eetvelt has also struggled for continuity, leaving the Tirreno-Adriatico prematurely.