How is Wout doing? Van Aert caught illness from kids, but new return date looks realistic

Wout van Aert was expected to return to the Superprestige cyclo-cross in Mol on Monday, December 23, but suddenly, there was news Sunday afternoon from his team Visma | Lease a Bike. The Belgian fell ill and had to skip his first planned cyclo-cross race. The next event on the schedule is Loenhout on December 27, one day after Christmas, and that date looks realistic.

Nothing seemed to indicate to the outside world that Van Aert would have to skip the cyclo-cross in Mol. On Thursday morning, he ran a solid lap in honor of his deceased fellow townsman, Rik Van Looy. Then, on Monday, he combined a 76-kilometer road ride with a 37-kilometer cyclo-cross training session in the woods near Lichtaart. Van Aert did this with Daan Soete, who won the Belgian Championship beach racing on Sunday.

Also present was 11-year-old Loic Wynants, son of Visma | Lease, a Bike team leader named Maarten Wynants. The cyclo-cross manager of the Dutch team, Jan Boven, revealed that the training of Van Aert on Friday still went smoothly. "But you could see it was beneficial that he did another workout.' Soete also agreed. 'For Wout, it was his first cyclo-cross training in the woods this season. He prepared his material with his team, and was doing better after half an hour of training. In Mol, he will have the technique again," he said.

At that time, however, Van Aert's kids at home were already feeling somewhat ill, which eventually spread to the rider. On Saturday, the Belgian trained for 140 kilometers from Herentals to Knokke, but the day after, he had to skip the cyclo-cross race in Mol. "Wout was not feeling well, so I can't tell you much more than the press release we sent. But things are already looking better for Loenhout," said Boven, who is taking it day by day with the other stakeholders of Visma | Lease a Bike. And also letting Van Aert enjoy Christmas with his family first.

Read more below the video!

First duel Van der Poel-Van Aert on December 27 in Loenhout?

The first duel with Mathieu van der Poel would also be on the program in Loenhout, which the Dutch rider is already looking forward to after his victory in Zonhoven on Sunday. "Of course, it's a shame he won't be present in Mol. Wout is always a fun opponent, and he brings in extra people, so that's a pity. Let's hope he recovers in time."

Van der Poel does not immediately see the first clash with his rival as a test. Wout has his approach to the road season. "I thought he did less last year to prepare for the cyclo-cross. He was on top of his game in the spring until he crashed. We shouldn't focus on that because we have a different approach."

Read also

Surprise!!! Marianne Vos returns to cyclo-cross after almost two years, World Championships likely main goal

Eleven out of eleven for Van der Poel? Wouldn't surprise Van Gucht and Herygers at all: "A master at work"

Mathieu van der Poel makes one remarkable observation after show in Zonhoven: "I can't achieve that on the road"