The beginning date of Wout van Aert’s cyclo-cross marketing campaign continues to be up within the air as a result of after results of the severe knee harm he suffered in September.
Van Aert crashed on stage 16 of the Vuelta a España on a moist descent and deserted moments later. His Visma-Lease a Bike crew later introduced that the 29-year-old Belgian had suffered what was described as a “severe” knee harm which might require a mixture of “intensive care” and antibiotics. Blood visibly streamed from his knee as he was attended to by Visma employees within the rapid aftermath of the crash.
Visma-Lease a Bike later stated that the Belgian’s highway season was over for the 12 months and that he wouldn’t race once more in 2024. It was anticipated that Van Aert would subsequently not race cyclo-cross till the tip of December on the earliest as his restoration continues, though it seems that has now been delayed additional with the information that he’s nonetheless struggling to run. Nevertheless, he’s very a lot capable of cycle, racking up the miles throughout his highway low season.
In addition to on bike coaching, Belgian outlet Het Laatste Nieuws reported that Van Aert will undertake a mixture of various working workout routines whereas at a crew coaching camp in a bid to additional strengthen his knee forward of his CX bow. The crew coaching camp runs till 19 December and the preliminary hope was that he might trip cyclo-cross quickly after.
Van Aert is a three-time CX world champion, though the final of those got here in 2018. Final season he received 3 times in 9 races.
Biking Weekly contacted Visma-Lease a Bike to ask about Van Aert’s restoration and to verify when he’s now anticipated to start his winter racing schedule.
Tom Pidcock, one other former cyclo-cross world champion, just lately refused to decide to racing CX in any respect this winter. The 25-year-old competed in eight CX races final season, profitable one in Namur, however prompt he won’t line up at any races in any respect throughout this season.
“In the meanwhile no, however probably,” he stated when requested if he had any CX plans within the making.
He added: “It has been an extended 12 months, I wanted a correct break free from the whole lot, however there is a chance I am going to do some races over Christmas and the brand new 12 months. We will determine that later.”
Pidcock and Van Aert are thought-about two of the cyclo-cross large three, the opposite being Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutchman has received the CX world title for the final two seasons.
Van der Poel’s crew have remained silent up to now on whether or not he’s more likely to seem at any cross races this winter. Based on HLN, it’s possible that the Dutchman will race some occasions with an announcement anticipated to return this week.
Van der Poel was the one one of many ‘large three’ that lined up on the final worlds in Tábor within the Czech Republic. Within the absence of the opposite two, Joris Nieuwenhuis of the Netherlands and Belgium’s Michael Vanthourenhout took second and third respectively.
