ProTeam Andreas Kron, back after crash in Dauphiné, looks ahead to Tour de Wallonie: "With a very good team at the start"

That massive crash in early June, during the fifth stage of the Critérium du Dauphiné, is still fresh in everyone's memory. Riders slid forward for meters on the soaking wet road, and dozens lay on the asphalt for minutes. It was a disaster, and Andreas Kron was among those affected. He had to leave the Dauphiné a day after the crash and was forced to withdraw from the Tour de France. Today, he is at the start of the Tour de Wallonie, patched up and ready for the rest of the season. "I didn't ride my bike for seven days after the Dauphiné," Kron says. "My osteopath tried to get me ready—he was with me every day for seven days—but it didn't work out. By then, the Tour was already upon us, and the time was much too short, even though we tried everything. It wasn't easy, as I missed the Tour last year as well, but on the other hand, it's also not a good idea to go if you're not at your best."

Andreas adjusted his focus and saw new opportunities. "I could spend more time with my family in Denmark in recent weeks, and that was nice. I also trained at altitude in Andorra, just 40 minutes from home. It's nice to train so close to home. You're away, but also at home, my friends live nearby... It's a nice way to prepare. I feel good again now. I still do my exercises every day, and that helps, but on the bike, it feels like before. I'm looking forward to the Vuelta now. I made great memories there last year and hope to do the same again this year."

But first: the Tour de Wallonie. "I'm excited to get some race rhythm again because that's definitely needed. This is the first test. It's a beautiful course this week, and I see opportunities here for the team and for a good overall classification. Personally, I've set my sights on stage three, between Arlon and La Roche-en-Ardenne. That stage suits me. But actually, every stage here offers opportunities for someone on our team. We have a very good squad at the start."

Pictures: PhotoNews