Jakob Fuglsang didn't start in today's 3rd stage of the 2012 Tour de Romandie because of an inflammation of the articular capsule and ligament of his left knee. The RadioShack-Nissan team management and medical staff have decided to remove the Danish rider from the team's roster for this year's Giro d'Italia.

"I am very disappointed," a sad Fuglsang commented from Basel and added "The Giro was my big objective for this year. Yesterday I had so much pain in the last 40 kilometers. I was just feeling miserable. At that point I realized that it might be the end of my Giro dream. Moreover I was already running behind my schedule after the scaphoid bone fracture I suffered in the Tour of Catalunya."

The pain in the knee started two weeks ago at an altitude camp in Sierra Nevada, Spain. From there Jakob Fuglsang took it easy and in agreement with the medical staff, he decided to ride the same way at the Tour of Romandie in order to maintain fitness for the coming Giro d'Italia.

According to Team RadioShack-Nissan doctor Andreas Gösele there is no doubt about the diagnosis. "This is an absolute clear diagnosis. Jakob is a great young rider and we all have a responsibility for him."

"With a quick and intensive therapy, Jakob would possibly be able to start at the Giro, but with how much risk?," asks Gösele. "A good result would be out of the question and if he would have to drop out after ten stages, what would we have accomplished? From a medical point of view, it is impossible to guarantee that he will be fine. It's never good to take an injured rider to the start of a Grand Tour, and neither is it good to take out the leader of a team during such an important race."

For the RadioShack-Nissan team Fuglsang's injury tops off a long list of disappointments this year. Frank Schleck and Andy Schleck have both disappointed and Fabian Cancellara fractured his collar bone earlier this season. The team is now aiming for success in the Tour de France come July, but hasn't ruled out its chances of success in the 2012 Giro d'Italia this coming May.

"[Fuglsang's injury] makes me very sad." Team RadioShack-Nissan manager Johan Bruyneel commented and added "Jakob had made the Giro his big season goal. He invested a lot of time and even personal funds for altitude camps to be in his best shape at the start of the race."

"I'm really sorry for him, but it's unrealistic to bring him to the start and believe in a miracle. The Giro is a very important race for our team and now we need to study how we can alter our strategy for those three weeks."

"The Giro was particularly special for me, because it starts in Denmark," commented Jakob Fuglsang himself and added "We would even have stayed in a hotel in the city where I grew up. My hand injury was already a setback. Now, with this on top, I can only agree with the doctors and not take any risk. I will look ahead. I am young and there will be other Grand Tours for me in the future."

The whole team here at Roadcycling.com wishes Jakob Fuglsang a speedy recovery and success later this season.

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