Tour de France: Belgian cyclist Lars Craps forced to withdraw
The 2026 Tour de France has lost one of its Belgian riders. Lars Craps, a member of the Lotto-Intermarché team, has announced that he will not start the 16th stage of the competition.
The athlete has fallen ill in recent days. Despite his efforts to continue the race, his health no longer allows him to sustain the intense physical exertion required by the Tour. His team confirmed that this is a necessary decision to protect his health.
With this departure, Lars Craps becomes the eighth Belgian rider to leave the race this year. This withdrawal is a hard blow for the Lotto-Intermarché team, which loses an important member for supporting its leaders during the mountain stages.
The Tour de France now continues without him, as the riders enter a decisive phase of the competition. Belgian fans, who follow the event in large numbers, now hope to see the other national cyclists shine on the French roads until the final finish line.