Wout van Aert will not race any more on the road in the 2024 season. His Vuelta a España ended on stage 16 with a double crash. The second of which, in the descent of the Collada Llomena, forced him to abandon the race and now he will only put a bib again in the cyclocross season likely.
"Wout van Aert will not race any more this season. The rider from Visma | Lease a Bike needs time to recover from his crash in the Vuelta a España," Visma wrote in a press release. "He suffered a serious knee injury that will require intensive care. Van Aert stays in the hospital in Belgium, where he will receive intravenous antibiotics to minimise the risk of infection. He will then take a break to make a full recovery before cautiously setting his sights on the next season.
Van Aert did not crash at speed but fell harshly against the side of the road which was rocky. A lot of dirt was also on the road in the location where he crashed; likely the amount of debris and friction led to even harsher wounds than what it appeared.
The Belgian had an extremely unlucky season, crashing at the E3 Saxo Classic and then again suffering brutal injuries in a fall at Dwars door Vlaanderen which ended most of his plans for the season. He returned to racing and raced the Tour de France; focusing on the French Grand Tour alongside the Olympic Games - where he finished third in the time-trial but suffered a late puncture in the road race which took him out of the fight for the medals.
At the Vuelta he found himself back in good form, winning three stages and carrying the points and KOM classifications into the final week. He looked certain to win green and was in the breakaway collecting mountain points. Only a few minutes after crossing Collada Llomena first, he fell and although he initially got back on the bike, it was impossible to continue.
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