Wout van Aert is back at it, despite his broken ankle sustained just over two weeks ago, and is aiming for an ‘Opening Weekend’ start to the season (Photo: Kristof Ramon)
Wout van Aert has already done a six-hour training session and was back on the home trainer three days after he has surgery for the ankle fracture he sustained on January 2nd, according to his Visma Lease a Bike team manager.
The Belgian rider came down in a heavy cyclocross crash in Mol, in snowy conditions, on January 2nd. And though some medical experts predicted a long recovery and rehabilitation, team manager Jan Boven said he pedalled on the home trainer after three days and trained on it after nine days.
“I texted Wout a few times and called him, but we knew what had to happen from Mol onward,” Boven told WielerFlits, the Dutch cycling site.
He added while Van Aert then had to abandon plans for any more cyclocross races, he was OK with missing the Zonhoven World Cup but much more annoyed at being unable to but having to forego the Belgian Championships was much more difficult for him.
“You just don’t have a choice, and he was back on the bike fairly quickly,” Boven said of Van Aert missing the remainder of the ‘cross season. “It’s definitely faster than expected, because he was back on the bike just three days after his surgery.
“We expected him to be able to train a bit on the rollers again after a week, but he’s already done another six-hour training session in Spain. I spoke with him at length yesterday, and he’s feeling great.”
Boven also seemed to suggested Van Aert would still look to start his season on ‘Opening Weekend’ in Belgium, at Omloop het Nieuwsblad, on Saturday, February 28th, with a view to other, bigger goals in the spring.
“It also helps that his inactivity didn’t last long,” Boven said of the Belgian’s post-crash period. “He’s barely fallen behind and he can definitely look forward to the spring classics.”
The fact Van Aert and his team are still aiming for a racing returned at the start of the European season is very surprising.
Some medical experts, with experience of treating other cyclists for similar injuries, suggested he was in a race against time to even be on the start line for Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix on April 5th and 12th respectively.
After the crash, Van Aert’s team confirmed he “sprained his ankle and sustained a small fracture”, adding he would undergo surgery “after which he will focus on his recovery”.
“Of course I am very disappointed to have to end my cyclocross season like this,” Van Aert said in a statement issued by his team at the time. “I was feeling better and better, including today in Mol.
“I was really looking forward to the race in Zonhoven and the Belgian Championships. But my focus will now be on recovery and, later on, the preparation of the road season.”