Just days before the start of the Vuelta, a sudden stop comes for Max Poole. The 22-year-old British rider, eleventh at the Giro d'Italia, will be forced to give up the Spanish race. His preparation path has been complicated and the situation worsened at the recent Tour de Pologne, when he had to abandon the race for medical reasons.

The results of the tests he underwent have revealed that Max is affected by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and therefore will not be able to train or compete for the next few weeks. Speaking about the situation, Poole stated: "These have been difficult weeks during which we tried to understand what the problem was, and I appreciate the support the team has given me during this period. I am quite relieved to have finally identified the root of the problem, because it means I can start focusing on recovery and getting back in shape. I am truly sorry not to be at the Vuelta with the team and I wish them good luck".

Team Picnic PostNL coach Rudi Kemna added: "Max was not cycling at altitude as we had hoped and, when he continued to worsen during the race in Poland, we excluded him from the race for medical reasons, to conduct thorough investigations. Now that we know his illness, our goal is simply to take care of him and give him the time and support he needs to fully recover".

Team Picnic PostNL doctor Camiel Aldershof stated: "We have investigated the possible causes of Max's health problems in recent weeks and today we have confirmed that he has the Epstein-Barr virus with infectious mononucleosis. Unfortunately, this means he will need a longer rest period while we work to bring him back to full health. Now that we know what is behind his symptoms, we can start moving in the right direction for his recovery".