Cyclingflash
Taco van der Hoorn sidelined for three months after knee surgery, misses major goals

Taco van der Hoorn sidelined for three months after knee surgery, misses major goals

A major setback for Taco van der Hoorn and his team Lotto-Intermarché: the Dutchman will be sidelined for three months following knee surgery, the team announced on social media. This means Van der Hoorn will miss the spring classics and the Giro d'Italia, his main objectives for this season.

"Taco van der Hoorn underwent surgery this morning (February 13) in Herentals (Belgium) due to prepatellar friction syndrome. At the beginning of January, he started experiencing knee pain, which also forced him to miss the Tour Down Under, and after mutual agreement, surgery was deemed the best option. Taco will be unable to cycle for the next four weeks and will then have to build up his training gradually. This means he will miss the Giro and the classics. We wish him all the best and a speedy recovery," reads the full statement from the team.

Prepatellar friction syndrome is a common injury among cyclists. This condition occurs when the tendinous bands lying over the kneecap lose their smooth texture, causing pain during movement. The syndrome can be caused by a fall but also by a sudden increase in training volume.

This is not the first time Van der Hoorn has been sidelined for an extended period due to injury. Between 2017 and 2018, and again between 2023 and 2024, he was out for a lengthy time due to the effects of a concussion.

 
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