With three main cyclocross races arising within the subsequent three days, there’s each excellent news and unhealthy information for Visma-Lease a Bike and their pair of ‘cross stars.
Wout van Aert is about to make his season debut on Monday on the Superprestige in Mol, his first aggressive outing since crashing out of the Vuelta a España in September.
Nevertheless, the Dutch crew will miss world champion Fem van Empel this weekend after she crashed throughout a recon trip this week.
The 22-year-old Van Empel has gained six of her 11 races to this point this season and completed on the rostrum in 4 of the opposite 5. She will not be including to her record of triumphs on the UCI World Cup rounds in Hulst and Zonhoven on Saturday and Sunday, although.
Visma-Lease a Bike introduced that Van Empel, who fell a number of instances on the way in which to a seventh-place end in Namur final weekend, harm her knee after crashing throughout a recon trip forward of the 2 World Cup meets.
“Fem van Empel fell throughout a recon trip this week and hit her knee,” the crew introduced. “She’s experiencing discomfort and, sadly, won’t be able to begin within the World Cups in Hulst and Zonhoven this weekend.
“Wishing you a speedy restoration, Fem!”
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In additional constructive information for the crew, Van Aert will return to motion on Monday to kick off his restricted six-race cyclocross marketing campaign this winter.
The Belgian will face off towards his everlasting rival Mathieu van der Poel in Mol earlier than taking up the Precise Cross Loenhout (December 27), Superprestige Gullegem (January 4) and World Cup rounds in Dendermonde (January 5), Benidorm (January 19), and Maasmechelen (January 25).
Talking to Crimson Bull, Van Aert mentioned that there is “nonetheless a query mark” over how aggressive he may be upon his return to cyclocross.
“I needed to concentrate on my rehabilitation for a very long time. Even now I’m nonetheless engaged on getting my proper leg as sturdy as my left leg,” he mentioned, in accordance with Het Laatste Nieuws.
“That after all means there’s much less time to coach particular cyclocross features. So, it is usually a query mark how aggressive I can be. However that I’m actually trying ahead to it, that’s past doubt.”
Whereas he is probably not at full energy right away, Van Aert did name racing via the winter “a ritual” and known as the game his “past love”, even when his diminished marketing campaign can be raced together with his focus extra on preparation for the 2025 street season and the spring Classics.
“It is actually a ritual for me to dive into the ‘cross within the winter. It is my second nature, my past love that I all the time return to,” he mentioned.
“For me, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix stay absolutely the major objectives. After I take into consideration that, I simply wish to do all the pieces to realize that.”
Fem van Empel fell throughout a recon trip this week and hit her knee. She’s experiencing discomfort and, sadly, won’t be able to begin within the World Cups in Hulst and Zonhoven this weekend.Wishing you a speedy restoration, Fem! 🍀 pic.twitter.com/K2vwTT3RqADecember 20, 2024
