Wout van Aert will not race any more this season. He needs time to recover from his crash in the Vuelta a España. Read more: teamvismaleaseabike.com/news/news/wout… Get well soon, @WoutvanAert! 🍀
Why mentally broken Van Aert forced to end season despite having no fractures
CyclingFriday, 06 September 2024 at 13:38
Painful news came on Thursday afternoon: Wout van Aert will no longer compete this season, his team Visma | Lease a Bike announced in a social media post. The Belgian superstar crashed hard in the Vuelta a España on Tuesday, suffering a knee injury.
The three-time stage winner, after attempting for a while, had to give up because of severe pain coming from a deep wound in the knee. No fractures were found in the hospital before he received further treatment in Belgium. "Van Aert is still staying in the hospital in Belgium," a post on the Visma | LaB team site explained more. "There, he will receive intravenous antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection as much as possible. After that, he will rest to fully recover before carefully preparing again for next season."
In the days following the crash, the main question was whether Van Aert would be fit in time for his last (main) goals of the year, the European Championships (September 15), the World Championships (September 29) and the World Gravel Championships (October 6). So that question has now been answered, although, unfortunately, it is a sad answer. It was a hard blow for the team, Van Aert, his friends and family, and the large fan base. It was for the Visma leader, several websites have listed, his tenth crash of the year. A year which, for killer bees in general, can rightfully be called a year of bad luck or even disaster.
Visma | Lease a Bike has to pick Van Aert up once more
In addition to the physical damage, Van Aert's blow has also hit hard mentally, Visma | Lease a Bike director Richard Plugge told HLN. "It is unfortunate what happened to Wout. He was really at the top level, with three stage wins and a green jersey that was almost secured. And then this happens... He is doing well, but of course, he feels terrible. We are here for him, confident he will get through this. How fast his treatment will go, I don't know. We have to wait for the first few days. We are playing it safe and want to ensure everything goes in the right direction."
At the European Championships and World Championships, Van Aert wanted to perform one more time, but two more main goals can be crossed out. Earlier this year, he had already missed the Giro d'Italia after a crash that had significant consequences on Dwars door Vlaanderen. He returned to top form through the Tour de France and headed towards the Vuelta. "Again, this was a heavy blow for Wout, and we want to give him time. When he has recovered, he can take a vacation because his road season has been very intense," said Van Aerts manager Jef Van den Bosch.
Van Aert has to take antibiotics
Flemish Sporza sought contact with Van Aert's family doctor, Peter T'Seyen. He, too, notes that the Belgian is sitting there bewildered. "Mentally, Wout is having a hard time; at the moment, he does not want visitors, only his wife, and his boys. He decided to skip the European Championships close to home but still hoped for the World Championships cycling and gravel in his own country. Especially after his tough spring and with the form he was in. He felt like a rider again; for me, he was almost at the level of the Tour in 2022."
It wasn't meant to be, although they at Van Aert's staff are glad the physical damage didn't turn out to be worse. But doctor Steven Claes was able to determine that it was a deep wound. "So deep that Wout is still in the hospital to avoid an infection. It is not a superficial wound; the wound goes almost into the joint and is heavily contaminated. The risk of infection is too high. Therefore, antibiotics are helpful and necessary at this time. In the short term, he will be unable to train for several weeks, let alone compete. He must not take any risks with a view to the future."
"Wout is strong," he concluded. "I am sure that Wout will return at the very highest level, no matter how difficult he is now."
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024