Klaas Vantornout abandoned the World Cup race in Hoogerheide at the halfway point. The Belgian champion has been suffering from health issues since last week but his participation in the Worlds is not in danger. "Klaas is again suffering from a respiratory infection," his Sunweb team announces.

The Sunweb - Napoleon Games rider missed a lot of races at the end of the year because he suffered from a respiratory infection. At the Belgian championships, he had back problems due to a crash but he still managed to win the Drikleur jersey.

Now Vantornout has again fallen ill. "Klaas has suffered from a respiratory infection for the past week," said sports director Mario De Clercq to Sporza. "He has again had to undergo a course of antibiotics for three days, but those antibiotics apparently also worked on his intestine with diarrhea as a result."

Yet Vantornout was at the start in Hoogerheide, but halfway through the race he gave up because he did not feel good and could not rely on his usual power . According to the team, his preparations for the Worlds are not at danger.