Biniam Guillemay is slowly on the road to recovery after suffering a concussion in a crash at the Tour de Flanders that brought an abrupt stop to an already difficult spring classics season.

The rider, just one of a long list of injuries for the team, remained in Belgium after a violent crash in early April, closely monitoring his wounds and concussion.

"After a final neurological examination at a hospital in Ukr last Friday, he was given permission to return home and continue his rehabilitation in Eritrea. On Monday, he rode the rollers for the first time for 15 minutes, beginning his step-by-step return to the sport."

The 23-year-old Eritrean rider broke out with a win in Ghent-Wevelgem in 2022 and began the spring classics season as one to watch. That season included a stage win at the Giro d'Italia, and he started the 2023 season strongly, winning the opening stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. The team also had an impressively strong early season and took the top spot in the UCI team standings early in the year.

However, after debuting in 12th place last year, the team finished 28th in Milan-San Remo and retired from the E3 Saxo Classic, where they had finished 5th last year. He then finished 97th in Ghent-Wevelgem, and a crash in the Tour de Flanders ended his chances of reviving his spring classic campaign. Plans for 2023, announced at the beginning of the year, include a Tour de France debut.

Guillemay was not the only one injured in the Tour de Flanders; Aimé de Ghent broke his left elbow and was out of the race until June, and Taco van der Hoorn suffered a concussion and a cut above his right eye. The team said van der Hoorn, the 2021 Giro d'Italia stage winner, is already further along in the build-up process than Girmay.

"He can gradually increase his training intensity as long as he can avoid the long-term effects of concussion," Schaefer said in a team injury update. The next few weeks will tell us if competing in the Tour de Italia is a realistic scenario."

Intermarche Circus Wanty has other injured and ill riders. Adrien Petit, who broke a bone in his hand after a fall in the Dwar door Hlaanderen, will be able to return to competition in 10 days. According to the team, Hugo Page is still battling glandular fever, while Rene Hellegotz and Baptiste Plancaerts are not yet back to full health due to illness. Rui Costa is also unable to compete in La Flèche Wallonne due to a knee injury.

"During the Classic, our team has been greatly affected by crashes, injuries, and illnesses. Despite this bad luck, our young talents have done a fantastic job." They include Dries De Pooter, Madis Michels, and Lorenz Rex. We are now concentrating on finding consistency with the goal of getting back to the level we were at earlier in the season."