Lotto Dstny rider Andreas Kron has confirmed that he will not be participating in this year’s Tour de France. Kron, who had a strong spring campaign with a fourth-place finish at the Amstel Gold Race, explained his decision, saying, “I felt that I wasn’t ready for the Tour. I am targeting a stage win at La Vuelta.”
Kron’s plans had initially included the Tour de France, but a change in plans was necessary. “I don’t feel ready to participate and together with the team, it was decided to focus on other goals,” he said. However, Kron expressed his enjoyment of participating in the Tour last year, adding, “I am a sportsman and I don’t want to just ride, I want to get results.”
The rider’s decision was influenced by a crash he had in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the final race of his spring campaign. Kron explained, “I had to reset both physically and mentally. That hindered me to have the best preparation for the Tour. I needed time to recharge the batteries.”
After two weeks off the bike and another two weeks to get back to a normal training routine, Kron realized that he was not at his best level for the Tour de France. “It is better to train some more and shift focus towards La Vuelta,” he said. Kron expressed gratitude to his team, Lotto Dstny, for their support and understanding during this period.
Looking ahead, Kron has set his sights on the upcoming La Vuelta. “To be honest, it wasn’t a difficult decision not to participate [in the Tour]. You don’t ride the Tour just for the sake of riding, you want to be on top level and get results. I hope to win a stage in La Vuelta,” he concluded.
