No Het Volk for Melchers

The European cycling season will start for Team Flexpoint with the women's Omloop Het Volk on Sunday, but it comes too soon for Dutch star Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel, who will not start due to an operation last week.

Doctors removed pins which Melchers-Van Poppel got after the crash in the Euregio Ladies Tour last year. After a short rehabilitation she will now focus on a later start to her season, now planned for the Italian one-day race Giro dei Comuni Ribardella-Montescudaio on Saturday March 24.

Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.