Dutchman Sam Oomen found himself unable to participate in the third stage of the Volta ao Algarve, after suffering a fall in the 2nd stage, in Alto de Fóia. The incident resulted in a knee injury, sidelining the cyclist, who competes for the Lidl-Trek team.
This is certainly a disappointment for the 28-year-old runner, who is in his first season with Lidl-Trek after spending three years racing for the Jumbo-Visma team.
Oomen’s challenges and his next steps
Oomen was working for Tao Geoghegan Hart who finished seventh in the group of favorites at Alto da Foia. Oomen, however, ended up arriving almost half an hour after the winner, Daniel Felipe Martínez, due to injuries suffered in the accident.
The Dutch cyclist’s start to the season included the Volta de Valencia, where he ranked 33rd in the general classification. He later participated in a preparatory endurance race, the Figueira Champions Classic, in preparation for the Volta ao Algarve. The athlete’s recovery time is still uncertain, but the future schedule included the Ardèche Classic and the Drôme Classic at the end of February.
Lidl-Trek speaks out
In a post on Twitter, the Lidl-Trek team wished the cyclist a speedy recovery: “Unfortunately, Sam Oomen will not be at the starting line of Stage 3 of #VAlgarve2024 today. He had an accident yesterday and is suffering some knee pain as a result. Get well soon, Sam.”