The appointment of Vilko Kelderman to Jumbo Visma's Giro d'Italia team due to injury has forced Zep Kuss to change his plans for the season.

Kelderman, who was to be the main domestique for Giro d'Italia leader Primos Rogerci, crashed at Tirreno-Adriatico last month, forcing him to miss the team's current high-altitude training camp in Tenerife.

This forced Jumbo Visma to leave him out of the squad and find a replacement.

"Unfortunately, Wilco's crash at Tirreno-Adriatico had the necessary consequences. He is currently not fit enough to participate in our high altitude training," said Mathieu Heyboer, head of performance at Jumbo Visma.

"This means that he will not be optimally prepared for the start of the Giro. It's a difficult decision, but the only right one. It is better to make the decision early than to realize too late that it will not work."

Kuss was set to ride with Jonas Vingegaard in the Tour de France, which could still happen. His first big task of the season, however, will be to support his old friend Roglic in Italy.

Kus was there in 2019 when Roglic finished third overall in the Giro, and has since ridden six Grand Tours with the Slovenian, including all three Vuelta a España wins.

"Sepp Kuss will take Wilco's place. Few riders can run with the best as a domestique. We put Sepp in that category," said Highbore.

"He can be a decisive factor in the high mountains. With Sepp, Primoš has an absolute top domestique who can support him for a long time. He has already proven it many times in the Tour and the Vuelta. They are a good duo. Losing Wilco is definitely a setback, but with Sepp we will be just as strong."

Kelderman is now likely to switch to a Tour de France program after a high-altitude training camp in the Sierra Nevada in May and the Tour de Suisse in June. Kuss, meanwhile, has experienced a crossover with the Grand Tour, often riding the Vuelta after the Tour.

Others in the Giro include: Tobias Foss, Robert Gesink, Jan Tratnik, Kane Bouwman, Eduardo Affini, and Michel Hessmann. Tenerife also has a young English neo-pro, Thomas Grogg. He has experience, but appears to be on the long list for the Giro as a reserve rider who could make his Grand Tour debut in his first year as a professional.

Roglic will be the clear leader in Italy after a storming start to the season with wins in Tirreno and Volta a Catalunya, despite being plagued by injuries last season.

"Primosch has surprised us once again," said the Italian. "Back in December we thought he needed time to get back to his best performance. Now we are convinced that he will reach that level in the Giro. Any doubts we had about him disappeared in March."