The Belgian will forfait this year's edition after undergoing surgery on his right fifth digit.
Iljo Keisse has been operated last Friday in Herentals to repair a tendon on his right pinky. Winner of Omloop Mandel and Textielprijs Vichte this season, the 34-year-old will have to observe 10-12 days of resting before going on the rollers, but a further 6 to 8 weeks will pass before he'll make his return to competition.
This means Iljo will not be at the start of the Six Days of Ghent, the prestigious six day event which he won on six occasions – last time in 2015 – scheduled this year between 14-19 November.
"The season wasn't over for me and the Six Days of Ghent was my last goal of the year, so to miss it is a major disappointment, especially as I've been on the podium in the past five years and it's my home race. It won't be easy to watch it as a spectator", Iljo said after last week's surgery.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele
