It's raining on the already wet ground for Lotto-Intermarchè. Just like Lionel Taminiaux, Lars Craps will also be forced to undergo surgery, temporarily putting his competitive commitments and season 2026 ambitions on hold.

For the twenty-four-year-old from Aalst, in his second season with the Belgian team, this will be his second surgery in two years, having already been obliged to go under the knife last winter to resolve knee issues that have cruelly returned to haunt him on the opposite leg in recent weeks.

"After undergoing the exact same surgery last year, it is truly painful to lose all spring races for the second consecutive season," Craps declared through his team's official channels.

"At this moment, it's difficult to express in words how disappointed I am. However, I am already motivated to fully commit myself to the recovery process and work on this comeback to reach an equally high or even better level."

For this to happen, however, considering the four full months away from racing experienced in 2025, it will likely be necessary to wait for the second part of the season. The former Flanders-Baloise, still at zero professional victories, will have had the opportunity to start training at full capacity, thus building the necessary condition to return to pinning a number on his back.

In the meantime, in the upcoming events, Lotto-Intermarchè will have to do without both him and Taminiaux, two important pieces for supporting team leaders and hunting for precious UCI points.