Just five minutes is what Visma-Lease a Bike allowed host sander Kleikers to question Wout van Aert on stage at their team presentation on Tuesday, before teh Belgian star went to sit back down with his fractured ankle, now wrapped up in a boot after surgery, propped up on a small stand and cushion.
But even as he hobbled back to his seat, the optimism from the team surrounding Van Aert’s recovery was evident, with teammate Matteo Jorgenson quipping, “He’s being dramatic, he looked pretty good on the bike today.”
Joking, may he have been, there was truth to Jorgenson’s words, with the injury Van Aert sustained just 11 days ago at a cyclo-cross race in Mol not ruling him out for as long as was speculated throughout the media in the days after his crash.
His race programme was presented,and with a start at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and a refreshed approach to the Classics,Van Aert is hoping he can forget this ankle injury in a few months as nothing more than a small bump in the road.
“For sure, it messed up my cyclo-cross season. I was still ambitious for the races to come; that was a big blow for me personally, but I hope in a few months I can tell you that it didn’t mess up anything for the season that’s still ahead,” he told the media assembled in La Nucia.
“we just started the new year, and we hope that time will be on my side so that I can be completely ready. It looks worse than it is now, but walking is still painful sometimes, and I have to be careful taking too many steps, but luckily, I’ve been riding already a l
Wout van Aert’s 2024 Cycling Season Plans
Wout van Aert intends to focus on the Spring Classics and grand Tours in 2024, aiming for victories in races like Paris-Roubaix, Strade Bianche, and Milan-San Remo.
Detail: Van Aert’s schedule includes Omloop Het Nieuwejaar, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris-roubaix as key objectives in the Spring Classics season. He will also participate in Tirreno-Adriatico as readiness for the Italian one-day races. His summer will be dedicated to the Tour de France and Vuelta a España. This strategy reflects a desire to secure a Monument victory for his team, Visma-Lease a Bike.
Example or Evidence: Van Aert’s previous wins in Strade Bianche (2020) and Milan-San Remo (2020) demonstrate his capability in these events. Strade Bianche 2020 Results, Milan-San remo 2020 Results.
Recent Performance and Confidence
Despite acknowledging inconsistency in his 2023 performance, Wout van Aert remains confident in his abilities as a top cyclist, citing recent victories as proof of his continued competitiveness.
Detail: Van Aert recognizes that his performance in the past season wasn’t consistently at the level he expects. Though, key wins, such as a stage at the 2023 Giro d’Italia in Siena and a stage victory into Paris at the 2023 Tour de France, have reinforced his belief in his capabilities. He acknowledges periods of fluctuating form but maintains his position among the world’s best riders.
Example or Evidence: Van Aert won Stage 1 of the 2023 Giro d’italia on May 6, 2023, in Fossombrone. Giro d’Italia 2023 – Stage 1 Results. He also won Stage 21 of the 2023 Tour de France on July 23, 2023, in Paris.Tour de France 2023 – Stage 21 Results.
Visma-Lease a Bike’s Pursuit of a Monument
Visma-Lease a bike (formerly Visma-Lease a Bike) is actively seeking a victory in one of cycling’s five Monuments, and Wout van Aert is a key rider in their strategy to achieve this goal.
Detail: The five Monuments - Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and Lombardy – are considered the most prestigious one-day races in professional cycling. Visma-Lease a Bike has invested heavily in its Classics roster,and a Monument win would be a significant achievement for the team. Van Aert’s focus on these races demonstrates the team’s commitment to this objective.
Example or Evidence: Visma-Lease a Bike has consistently been a top-ranked team in the UCI WorldTour rankings. UCI WorldTour Rankings. The team’s previous successes in Grand Tours demonstrate their ability to support a rider’s pursuit of major victories.
