John Degenkolb will not compete in the World Championships road race next Sunday due to a bronchitis problem that forced him to quit the Vuelta a España after four stages.
The 28-year-old, a former winner of Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix, was set to be Germany's team leader and one of the favourites for the Bergen course, but it emerged on Sunday morning that he will not ride, with the German Cycling Federation (BDR) citing "health problems" and "respiratory problems".
After leaving the Vuelta, Degenkolb returned to racing earlier this month at the Brussels Cycling Classic and GP de Fournies one-day races, and this week he rode four stages at the Tour of Denmark - often in terrible weather conditions - but did not finish the final stage on Saturday.
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Johannes Fröhlinger from Team Sunweb will take Degenkolb’s place in Germany's nine-man team.
"For me it's a honour to be selected as the captain of the German road Worlds national team. I don't take that for granted. It's something special. It shows the respect of the BDR, the trust from the trainers and stuff and of course from the team mates. It's a huge responsibility. I thank everybody for this one," Degenkolb wrote in a statement on his Facebook page.
"But I have the same responsibility for all of them and my team deserves the maximum honesty. After I left the Vuelta due to a bronchitis I could return very fast back on my bike, back into training and as well back into racing. In these races it turned out that I am not in the shape as before, not in the shape to fullfil the leading role at the world cups elite race. A role I expect from myself and my teammates and the fans expect that from me as well.
Doctor's orders
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