Daniele Bennati will be present on the Ronde van Vlaanderen start line on Sunday, despite suffering lingering effects of a crash in stage two of Tirreno-Adriatico.
"Daniele doesn't want to miss it and, in conjunction with the medical staff, we have decided to support his desire," said Stefano Zanatta, Liquigas directeur sportif in a statement. "During Driedaagse De Panne he showed good condition until the pain became acute again."
The team doctor Roberto Corsetti explained the recovery process of Bennati since his accident. "The day after Daniele crashed, he started to feel a light pain in the muscle of his right thigh which faded during the remainder of Tirreno-Adriatico. At Milano-Sanremo, in the final kilometres, the pain reappeared more intensely. We decided for three days of complete rest together with physiotherapy work. Prior to leaving for Belgium his situation clearly improved.
"Considering that the participation of Daniele in the Ronde van Vlaanderen will not compromise his next scheduled races, and in respect of the strong will showed by the athlete, we have decided to let him start," continued Corsetti.
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Based in the southeastern United States, Peter produces race coverage for all disciplines, edits news and writes features. The New Jersey native has 30 years of road racing and cyclo-cross experience, starting in the early 1980s as a Junior in the days of toe clips and leather hairnets. Over the years he's had the good fortune to race throughout the United States and has competed in national championships for both road and 'cross in the Junior and Masters categories. The passion for cycling started young, as before he switched to the road Peter's mission in life was catching big air on his BMX bike.
