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* wout Van Aert’s Recovery: Wout Van Aert is recovering remarkably quickly from a fractured ankle sustained in a crash on January 2, 2026, during the Zilvermeercross in Mol while competing with Mathieu van der Poel.
* Surgery & Initial Prognosis: He underwent accomplished surgery on January 3rd. Initially, doctors (like Tom Teulingkx) predicted a potentially lengthy recovery, suggesting he might be back on the bike in “a few weeks.”
* Rapid Return to Training: Van Aert has surprised everyone with the speed of his recovery. Just nine days after surgery, he completed a 33.39km outdoor ride averaging 32.3km/h, posting it on Strava. He also completed an indoor session.
* Visible Injury: Photos from his indoor session show meaningful bruising and swelling in his foot and ankle, as well as a visible screw in his joint.
* Current Training: He is currently training in Spain with Matteo Jorgenson and others.
* Future Prospects: His recovery puts him on track for a potential “inspired classics campaign.”
* Date of Update: The article was updated on January 17, 2026.