Nacer Bouhanni to ride Tour of California after being diagnosed with magnesium deficiencies
Apr 26 2019 04:50 am CET
Photo of Nacer Bouhanni © Mary Cárdenas / CyclingPub.com
Cofidis' Nacer Bouhanni is set to return to racing at the Tour of California. The rider has undergone several tests to try to find out the causes of his mixed performances.
The French rider withdrew from Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, arrived out of time in the first stage of Tirreno-Adriatico, crossed the finish line of Milano-Sanremo in the 62nd position and achieved top-ten positions in Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne, Cholet-Pays de la Loire and La roue Tourangelle Region Centre Val de Loire, before having to retire at the third stage of the Circuit Cycliste Sarthe-Pays de la Loire.
Cofidis confirmed that the rider is not starting in Eschborn-Frankfurt to prepare for the Tour of California, although he doesn't seem pleased about this choice. "It's not my decision," Bouhanni commented to French newspaper L'Equipe. "I found out by voice message from sports director Alain Deloeuil. I will continue training."
Bouhanni also explained his physical condition. "I retired at the Circuit de la Sarthe after I didn't have any force at all," he said. "Exam results show magnesium deficiencies. My 'proteomics' (large-scale study of proteins) report of last year showed a state of fatigue, both physical and psychological: chronic oxidative stress, which may be due to the environment."
This contradicts what team manager Cedric Vasseur said about the rider, that he was suffering from allergies. "I have never had an allergy in my career," stated Bouhanni.
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