Sporza commentators know more about the exact nature of Wout van Aert’s worsening elbow issue

Bad news for Wout van Aert and Visma | Lease a Bike. According to HLN, examinations following his withdrawal from the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes have shown that the Belgian’s elbow is indeed infected. That means his participation in the Tour de France now depends on how quickly he can recover from the problem.

Van Aert had still won Thursday’s stage in France, but afterward he already indicated that his elbow had become more painful. The wound there was the result of a crash on his time trial bike before the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

He did not start on Friday because it was necessary for him to travel back to Belgium for further checks. According to HLN, those examinations revealed an infection in the wound on his elbow, exactly the scenario Van Aert and his entourage had already feared.

The Belgian outlet reports that Van Aert will have to stay off the bike for at least several days, which is far from good news with the Tour de France starting in Barcelona on July 4. During the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Van Aert had already said that he still needed to sharpen his form further, but he has now been hit by another setback at a highly inconvenient moment.

According to HLN, it has therefore also become uncertain whether Van Aert will join the altitude camp in Tignes on Monday. The Tour itself is now a question mark as well. Everything depends on how quickly the wound on his elbow can heal.

On Sporza, commentator Christophe Vandegoor — who had been in contact with Van Aert’s manager Jef Vandebosch — shared an additional update. “The wound was treated at the hospital in Herentals. They assume the irritation was made worse by riding in the aero bars during the team time trial,” he explained.

“It would not have anything to do with whether or not there was dirt in the wound. There is a very real chance that he will not leave for altitude camp immediately,” Vandegoor added. Co-commentator José De Cauwer responded: “It is never good, because that will still trigger a reaction in the body. But I think it will be fine, given all his experience.”

“They will need him within the team and will have to take him with them. It would be very surprising if it came to the point where he does not go. He will also partly have left the race as a precaution, with certainty and safety toward the Tour in mind,” De Cauwer explained.

Author: David Bavin-Hobbs - [email protected]