Giant-Alpecin forced to pull out of Dwars door Vlaanderen after Brussels attacks

Only two members of the Giant-Alpecin squad for Dwars door Vlaanderen could make it to the start line, forcing the team to pull out of the race

Giant-Alpecin chases on stage eighteen of the 2015 Tour of Spain

(Image credit: Watson)

Dwars door Vlaanderen will go ahead on Wednesday, despite the terrorist attacks that hit Brussels on Tuesday, but Giant-Alpecin will not be on the start line.

The German-registered team was left with just two riders who could make it to Belgium on time after all flights to the capital were cancelled.

Chad Haga, who was set to make his comeback from injuries suffered in a training crash in January, was held up in Spain with Caleb Fairly, while Frederik Ludvigsson was stuck in Sweden.

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Due to the injuries suffered in a collision with a car in Calpe the team was already down to the minimum of six riders, rather than the allowed eight.

Movistar are reportedly badly hit as well; set to start the race with just four riders after Antonio Pedrero, Nelson Oliveira, Carlos Betancur and Jorge Arcas were removed from the line-up.

Ag2r La Mondiale will start with six riders, while several teams, including Katusha, Orica-GreenEdge and IAM Cycling will start with seven.

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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.