Wout van Aert takes next step in recovery with over three hours on the bike
Running is still an issue, but Wout van Aert is making good progress recovering from his broken ankle and subsequent surgery. On Monday, the Visma | Lease a Bike rider got back on the bike briefly, and now the serious work is starting in Spain.
Nine days after his ankle surgery, the Belgian was already able to complete a first training ride in his home country. The ride wasn’t long, but for Van Aert it was already a victory. In total, the 31-year-old classics specialist completed a 33.3-kilometer ride at an average speed of 32.3 kilometers per hour.
The next day, Van Aert was back on the bike, this time near La Nucia in Spain, where Visma | Lease a Bike is currently based for a training camp ahead of the upcoming road season. This time, it was a training ride of just under sixty kilometers.
His recovery is clearly progressing well, as evidenced by his training activity over the last few days. On Wednesday, Van Aert was spotted again on his road bike. The Kempen native headed out with teammates Timo Kielich, Matteo Jorgenson, Louis Barré, and Bruno Amirail for an intense three-and-a-half-hour training session, covering just under 109 kilometers and 2,119 meters of climbing.
The Belgian is currently (with the team) in Spain to continue preparing for the new cycling season, but earlier this week he also spoke to the press during the Visma | Lease a Bike media day. "It’s great to be here again," Van Aert said, who broke his ankle in a crash during the Zilvermeercross in Mol (January 2). "I think it’s a sign that the recovery is going well."
Ready in time for the Omloop?
Van Aert will need to recover quickly, as he’s expected to kick off his road season at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad at the end of February. How certain is it that he will make the Belgian season opener? "I’m more likely to make it than not. To what extent it will hold me back is hard to say right now. I hope as little as possible, but we’ll see."
