Cycling
Wout van Aert has not recovered sufficiently from his fall in Dwars door Vlaanderen and will pass for the Giro. Frenchman Christophe Laporte replaces him.
Wout van Aert will not participate in the Tour of Italy, which will be held from May 4 to 26. His Visma-Lease a Bike team announced this on social media. Van Aert is still experiencing too much discomfort from his fall in Dwars door Vlaanderen, in which he suffered fractures in the collarbone, sternum and ribs. He also had a bruised lung.
“I am very happy to say that I am doing well,” says Wout van Aert in a video on social media. “I am recovering from all my injuries after my crash in Dwars Door Vlaanderen. Many injuries recover well, but my ribs still limit me too much. So at the moment I can’t train at all. I have already done my first pedal strokes, but I am not yet able to train. Hence my decision not to start in the Giro. That’s a big disappointment. It’s a shame that I also have to cancel my second goal of the season, but my health is a priority. My body needs time to recover.”
Van Aert took part in the Giro for the first time. It is not yet clear when our compatriot will return to competition. Normally his next goal after the Giro was the Olympic Games in Paris.
