Lotte Claes has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming 2025 La Vuelta Femenina due to illness, just a day before the race was set to begin. The 31-year-old rider from Arkéa-B&B has been suffering from a sore throat and congestion, prompting her team to remove her from the start list.
“It’s disappointing,” Claes said. “I had set my sights on the Vuelta after my win at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad earlier this season, but I had a tough time recovering from a bout of diarrhoea on the day of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Despite that, I managed to complete the race in 61st place.”
Claes speculated whether her symptoms might have originated from being chilled at La Flèche Wallonne. She experienced stomach cramps, throat pain, and respiratory issues after Liège, but initially, she decided to continue her journey to Spain. However, upon arrival, her team made the decision to withdraw her from competition.
Michaela Drummond will step in as Claes’s replacement. Claes now plans to take the necessary time to recover and will focus on preparing for the Tour de France Femmes, where she finished 16th overall last year.
