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Vermeulen replaces Bookwalter in USA team for Worlds

By Cycling News

published 15 September 2017

Post-concussion symptoms plague BMC rider after Tour of Britain crash

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Brent Bookwalter (BMC)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

2016 US pro time trial championship podium: Tom Zirbel (2nd), Taylor Phinney (1st), Alexey Vermeulen (3rd)(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)

Alexey Vermeulen drives the breakaway during stage 3 at the Criterium du Dauphine(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Brent Bookwalter (BMC)(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)

American Alexey Vermeulen (LottoNl-Jumbo)(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Brent Bookwalter has been forced out of the USA Cycling squad for the UCI Road World Championships due to lingering symptoms from a concussion he sustained after crashing into a parked car on the course in stage 4 of the Tour of Britain.

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Bookwalter out of Tour of Britain after crashing into parked car

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USA Cycling has named Alexey Vermeulen (LottoNl-Jumbo) as his replacement.

"After speaking with Brent and his medical team, we collectively decided it would be better for him to not race the UCI Road World Championships," said Jim Miller, USA Cycling Vice President of High Performance. "Brent is still suffering from post-concussion symptoms and it does not make sense to put him at risk."

Vermeulen, who was third in the USA Pro Road Championships behind winner Larry Warbasse (Aqua Blue Sport), earned the endorsement of Bookwalter, who said he was sad not to be able to race.

Vermeulen will join Nate Brown and Alex Howes of Cannondale-Drapac, Tejay van Garderen and Joey Rosskopf of BMC Racing, and Kiel Reijnen (Trek-Segafredo) in the country's six-man team for the road race in Bergen.