Wout van Aert is to skip the Giro d’Italia due to the accidents he suffered in a crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen final month, it was introduced on Thursday.
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider stated he was “dissatisfied” to be lacking the Italian Grand Tour, which was set to be one of many largest targets of the season, after the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, which he additionally missed.
At Dwars, Van Aert broke a collarbone, his sternum and 7 ribs, and has been unable to coach up to now. Whereas he has posted a stroll and his first bathe on Strava, he has not climbed on his bike in a significant manner but. There are simply 23 days till the beginning of the Giro.
He might be changed within the Visma crew by Christophe Laporte, with the squad aiming for dash victories by means of Olav Kooij and normal classification by means of Cian Uijtdebroeks.
Van Aert was set to experience the Giro upfront of focusing on the highway race and time trial on the Paris Olympics later this yr; it’s not identified if the Tour de France might be added to his programme because of this information. No replace was given on his future schedule.
“I’m actually completely satisfied to inform you that I’m doing effectively,” Van Aert stated within the message posted on social media. “I’m recovering from all my accidents for the time being. After my crash in Dwars Door Vlaanderen, lots of accidents are fairly good for the time being, however my ribs are nonetheless a limiting issue, so at this level I can’t practice in any respect.
“I’m attempting to do my first pedal strokes on the bike, however not sufficient to have the ability to practice. That’s why we made the choice to not begin the Giro d’Italia.
“It’s an enormous disgrace, I’m actually dissatisfied to additionally miss my second huge purpose of the season however at this second I have to prioritise my well being and I would like to present my physique the time to get well.”
In Van Aert’s absence on the Classics, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) received each Flanders and Roubaix.
The Belgian has received a stage of the Volta ao Algarve and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne up to now in 2024, however hoped so as to add to his palmarès in Italy in Might, having by no means raced the Giro earlier than.
Van Aert will not be alone in being an injured Visma-Lease a Bike rider at current. Jonas Vingegaard, their GC chief for the Tour, was caught up in a horror crash at Itzulia Basque Nation final week and faces a race in opposition to time to be prepared for the race in July.
