Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) has been ruled out of Sunday’s Milan-San Remo following a family tragedy.
Boonen’s wife, Lore, suffered a miscarriage and the rider will not contest the race, which is among the few Classics he has not won.
The withdrawal could see 2009 winner, Mark Cavendish, lead OPQS in Boonen’s absence. The British champion recently confirmed that he will race in the first of the season’s ‘Monuments’.
A statement from the team said: “With heavy hearts, team OPQS announces that Tom Boonen will not take part in Milano-Sanremo next Sunday.
“The Belgian champion won’t start because he and his partner, Lore, lost their baby few hours ago due to a miscarriage. In such a sensitive moment Tom prefers to stay by his partner’s side.
“All the athletes, staff, and sponsors of the team want Lore and Tom to know that they support them at this difficult time, and they hope the couple will find the strength to get through this trying experience.”
Boonen had returned to his best form after an injury-hit campaign in 2013. The Belgian, widely regarded as the best Classics rider of his generation, had recently continued his preparation for the biggest races of spring with victory at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. His first victory this season on home soil followed two stage victories in the Tour of Qatar, where he also won the points classification.
Boonen and his fellow sprinters were not expected to contest Milan-San Remo after the introduction of the Pompeiana climb, but a landslip forced organisers to alter the parcours. Further difficulties necessitated the removal of the Le Mànie climb too, making it possible for sprinters to compete.
After being dropped on the climb of Le Mànie in 2012, Cavendish had ruled himself out of further participation in La Classicissima, but following the changes, he has confirmed his intention to return to the race.
While OPQS have yet to announce their squad for the 105th edition of the race, the provisional start list shows many of the riders who contested Tirreno-Adriatico, including Cavendish, Rigoberto Uran, world time trial champion, Tony Martin, and 2005 winner, Alessandro Petacchi.
Boonen and his wife had been expecting the birth of their first child. “We kindly ask everyone to respect the privacy of Lore, Tom and the Boonen family,” OPQS said in a statement.
