yeah, I was thinking the same, but Kristoff is basically confirmed to leave as well - and not lining up someone for that reason only really made sense when riders were still taking their points with them.Is it a contract thing, I wonder? He‘s not signing an extension, so someone who is staying gets the spot? It’s the only (non injury or Covid) reason I can think of, but there are other guys in the Tour squad who also aren’t likely to extend, so maybe not.
And Hermans had issues before all of his highlights so far this year. Corona before the CX worlds, sick right before the Ardennes, crash the day before the Belgium Tour - so it's not unthinkable that sth stupid happened again.