Visma's sick bay is clearing out: Uijtdebroeks, Kelderman, and Gesink (after 'low-altitude camp') set for return

This season, Visma | Lease a Bike has undoubtedly been hit hard, but the Dutch team's sick bay is gradually emptying. Some of the recovering riders are currently in Tignes working on their comebacks, while others are set to return to competition this week.

In recent weeks, Bart Lemmen, Wout van Aert, Koen Bouman, and Dylan van Baarle have already made their returns after a lengthy period away from competition and various issues, while team leader Jonas Vingegaard is also now in better condition. The Dane is training at altitude in Tignes with Van Aert and Christophe Laporte, who dropped out of the Giro d'Italia, as they prepare for their (hoped-for?) participation in the Tour de France.

Another part of the team is expected to resume racing this week in Switzerland. The provisional start list for this season's challenging Tour of Switzerland includes the names of Robert Gesink and Cian Uijtdebroeks, who both dropped out of the Giro d'Italia, as well as Wilco Kelderman. The climber from Barneveld broke his collarbone on the final stage of Paris-Nice and has thus been out of racing for nearly three months.

In addition to this trio, Ben Tulett is normally returning to competition after dealing with illness in April. The Brit, along with Johannes Staune-Mittet, completed part of the altitude training with the Tour team in the Sierra Nevada, where Kelderman was also present. Attila Valter and Milan Vader are also on the roster for the Tour of Switzerland, which this year includes several mountain stages and time trials.

Gesink and Uijtdebroeks didn't sit idly after Giro withdrawal

For Gesink and Uijtdebroeks, leaving the Giro was undoubtedly a bitter pill to swallow. The Dutchman suffered a hand fracture on day one. He walked several kilometers in Andorra in the first few days, but just four days after his crash, he was already back on the Tacx and soon cycling outdoors. He then prepared himself for competition via a 'low-altitude camp' in France, celebrating his 38th birthday on May 31.

Uijtdebroeks, who was in contention for a strong overall finish and the youth jersey, had to leave the race after the first rest day but quickly got himself ready for the Tour of Switzerland with mountain training, a race that should suit him well. It's not yet officially clear whether he'll compete in a Grand Tour this season, but the Vuelta in the fall would be a good possibility.