Wesemann out

2004 Ronde Van Vlaanderen winner Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile) will not participate in this year's edition if the event. Suffering from respiratory problems due to a viral infection, the German will rest to cure his condition. Team mate André Korff will replace him in Sunday's race.

"In this state, he wouldn't be able to play a role in the finale anyway," said T-Mobile directeur sportif Valerio Piva. "It would be too risky to make him race only to help the team in the beginning. That's why it is best that he takes the time to recover, to be fit again for Paris-Roubaix."