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 “disillusioned” to be lacking the Italian Grand Tour, which was set to be one of many greatest 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 to date. Whereas he has posted a stroll and his first bathe on Strava, he has not climbed on his bike in a significant means but. There are simply 23 days till the beginning of the Giro.
He will probably be changed within the Visma staff by Christophe Laporte, with the squad aiming for dash victories by way of Olav Kooij and normal classification by way of Cian Uijtdebroeks.
Van Aert was set to experience the Giro prematurely 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 will probably be added to his programme because of this information. No replace was given on his future schedule.
“I’m actually blissful to inform you that I’m doing nicely,” Van Aert stated within the message posted on social media. “I’m recovering from all my accidents in the meanwhile. After my crash in Dwars Door Vlaanderen, a number of accidents are fairly good in the meanwhile, however my ribs are nonetheless a limiting issue, so at this level I can’t prepare in any respect.
“I’m attempting to do my first pedal strokes on the bike, however not sufficient to have the ability to prepare. That’s why we made the choice to not begin the Giro d’Italia.
“It’s a giant disgrace, I’m actually disillusioned to additionally miss my second huge objective of the season however at this second I have to prioritise my well being and I want 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 to date in 2024, however hoped so as to add to his palmarès in Italy in Could, having by no means raced the Giro earlier than.
Van Aert is just not 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 towards time to be prepared for the race in July.
