Cycling
Hoogerland back for TDF
2012-06-21 13:16
Paris - Dutch rider Johnny Hoogerland, who suffered an accident in last year's Tour de France, will compete in the race this year with his Vacansoleil team, the Dutch outfit confirmed on Thursday.
Hoogerland had 33 stitches inserted to close deep gashes in his leg after he was hit by a car on the ninth stage last year, but has said that he wants to target the top climber's polka dot jersey from June 30 to July 22.
France's Romain Feillu, who wore the yellow jersey in 2008, will not be competing for Vacansoleil, while Belgian Thomas de Gendt, third in the Tour of Italy, will skip the race because it clashes with his wedding plans.
Dutch rider Lieuwe Westra, second in the Paris-Nice last March and the Dutch national time-trial champion, will compete for the team which is participating for the second time in the world's most famous cycling race.
Vacansoleil team:
Kris Boeckmans (BEL), Johnny Hoogerland (NED), Gustav Larsson (SWE), Marco Marcato (ITA), Wout Poels (NED), Rob Ruijgh (NED), Lieuwe Westra (NED), Rafael Valls (ESP), Kenny Van Hummel (NED)