Hard lines for Justin Leov who has conceded his 2016 Enduro World Series title challenge after contracting Glandular Fever (mono).
Leov had reported feeling fatigued since the start of the season and, after two tough rounds in South America, has been diagnosed with the disease.
Leov said: “The cycle has been train, get sick have to rest and then get back into training only to repeat it again. I went to my Doctor and was tested for Glandular Fever (Mono, or Epstein Barr Virus) it turns out I have it”
Glandular Fever is caused by Epstein-Barr virus and is most commonly caught by young adults and adolescents. It will not require much treatment but Leov will has been advised to wait until his liver returns to normal function and then a further six weeks before he can get on the bike again. This means he will definitely miss the Emerald Enduro, which happens in two weeks time, but should hopefully be on the road to recovery for the rest of the season.
This is the second season in a row that Leov has been hit with bad luck after he broke his shoulder at round six in Whistler last year while sitting at the top of the standings. This year, he finished 19th in Corral and 16th in Bariloche results he puts down to the virus and a lack of time on the bike recovering from his shoulder surgery.
Leov told stuff.nz: “They’ve said it’s weekly blood tests to see how my liver is functioning and once that returns to a normal level I’ll need about six weeks before I can return. I’m sidelined now but I have no idea how long it’s going to be before I’m back and what I can actually do. I don’t think I could have won it this year because of the limited time on the bike but I think I could have gone top three or top four. My long-term goal is to get that title in the next couple of years, so next year or the year following that. I’m going to work really hard to get it.”
Hopefully we’ll see Leov charging at full health soon.
