Wout van Aert underwent surgical procedure on his fractured collarbone on Thursday morning in Herentals, Belgium, along with his Visma-Lease a Bike group confirming it was “a profitable operation”.
The group confirmed that the Belgian rider suffered a damaged sternum and damaged collarbone in addition to a number of fractures to his ribs throughout Dwars door Vlaanderen in a high-speed crash with 67km remaining within the race.
He was taken to an area hospital in Ronse, the place the fractures to his clavicle and rib fractures had been first identified. His sternal fracture was confirmed later as he was about to bear surgical procedure in Herentals by the renown surgeon Tom Claes, the son of the physician who handled Van Aert in 2019 after his heavy fall within the Tour de France.
“It’s unclear when Wout will be capable of get again on his bike. The subsequent few weeks will probably be all about his restoration,” the Visma-Lease a Bike group stated on Thursday following Van Aert’s surgical procedure.
Lidl-Trek teammates Jasper Stuyven and Alex Kirsch additionally suffered accidents that required surgical procedure, Stuyven to restore a fractured collarbone and Kirsch for a fractured metacarpal in his proper hand.
Stuyven was handled on the similar Herentals hospital as Van Aert, and the group confirmed his “profitable surgical procedure.”
“Wout first undergoes surgical procedure in Herentals, instantly after him it’s my flip. Possibly we will have a espresso collectively on our sick mattress,” Stuyven stated to Het Laatste Nieuws.
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Stuyven stated goodbye to Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix through social media, referencing that his accidents had been his model of ‘Hell of the North’ 10 days early.
“All sacrifices we made, the extent we reached. Hell got here 10 days early. Nothing extra to say than wishing everybody the very best for coming races & to heal rapidly. Thanks for all messages of help. We’ll meet once more subsequent 12 months, Flanders,” he wrote on X, previously Twitter.
Like Stuyven, Van Aert will miss the upcoming Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
Each races had been targets for the Visma-Lease a Bike chief, earlier than his Giro d’Italia debut in Might. Now even the Italian Grand Tour in Might is indoubt.
“His participation within the Giro d’Italia continues to be unsure. We are going to decide within the coming weeks based mostly on his restoration,” the group stated.
Van Aert was on the lookout for a primary victory on the cobbled Monuments after 9 makes an attempt. He had devoted the primary a part of his 2024 season to these two races, finishing an altitude coaching camp however lacking Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo.
He was on type, having gained Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne and brought podium spots at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and E3 Saxo Basic, the latter simply 5 days earlier than his crash. He lowered his cyclocross schedule over the winter and used a current altitude coaching to raise his health for his targets.
Additionally injured within the pile-up had been Biniam Girmay and Laurenz Rex of Intermarche-Wanty, Gent Wevelgem winner Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Michele Gazzoli (Astana Qazaqstan).
The crash occurred on a quick method to the Kanarieberg climb when Van Aert clipped a rear wheel of his teammate Tiesj Benoot, Van Aert the primary to fall closely and different riders close by caught in a pile. Van Aert, Stuyven, Girmay and Gazzoli had been taken off the course, whereas six others concerned had been in a position to resume racing.
Replace Wout van AertWout van Aert had a profitable operation as we speak. Examination revealed that he suffered a damaged sternum, damaged collarbone and a number of other damaged ribs.It’s unclear when Wout will be capable of get again on his bike. The subsequent few weeks will probably be all about his…March 28, 2024
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💔💔Heal up, Jappe! We all know you’ll be again stronger than ever 💪🙏 https://t.co/rOnrEFZgLvMarch 28, 2024
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