The current leader of the UCI mountain-bike ranking and Belgian National Champion in charge Roel Paulissen will not be able to defend his title in this year’s edition of the Belgian National Mountain-Bike Championships on Sunday 17th July, 2005 in Tervuren because of an illness that afflicted him earlier this week.
According to Paulissen’s Italian doctor who diagnosed an acute suppurating infection of the respiratory tract combined with a heavy sinusitis, Paulissen’s personal doctor Jan Mathieu advised Roel against taking part in the race.
Roel Paulissen:” It’s today already the second day that I am in bed with a heavy headache, pain in my lungs and my throat and I have a really bad cough. Already after the flight back from Brazil (World Cup) I could feel that there was something going on in my body. It’s a pity that I won’t be able to gain the National jersey once again on Sunday, especially because it always is/was my pride and joy to wear it!”
