"This is really a disaster" - Belgian sports doctor rules Wout van Aert out of Giro d'Italia, warns that premature return to racing 'can be fatal'
Cycling
Wout van Aert has experienced adversity before in his professional career but perhaps none of this dimension. Days before another attempt at winning the cobbled monuments the Belgian rider crashed extremely hard and suffered extensive injuries that, according to a doctor who's in on the situation, will likely take months to heal and completely change his season.
"That is a polytrauma. We only see such things in serious traffic accidents. And then we only know the damage on the surface. In the event of a crash at 80 or 90 km/h, the inside may also be severely damaged," Belgian sports association doctor Kris Vandermieren told Sporza. Further research will now have to show whether there is any more damage. Compare it with the body of a car. People are now talking about the outside, but the inside has also experienced a severe shock."
Van Aert was visibly shaken after the crash, but the outcome later in the night proved even worst than initially expected. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider has suffered a broken collarbone, three ribs and a fracture in the sternum after crashing at high speed during Dwars door Vlaanderen.
"A crack in the sternum heals itself, but that takes time. That could even take months. But of course you have to keep breathing. The [rib] fracture line is therefore always moving, so it does not heal easily. You have to count on that for 3 to 6 weeks," he continues. "And then there is a heavy mental impact: Van Aert will be completely destabilized hormonally. The "neurohormones", which make you feel good, have been shaken up. This is really a disaster. At the worst possible time, at the top of his career... This is really not easy."
The Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix are immediately ruled out, but his debut at the Giro d'Italia is now also extremely unlikely. The Belgian will have to take several weeks at the very least off the road to not only recover from his injuries, but prevent further injuries that could prove even worst:
"In the event of a new fall, those broken ribs can cut through the lung membrane like a razor blade and cause a collapsed lung. That can be fatal," Vandermieren warns. "There is always a doctor nearby during a competition, but not during training. Van Aert will therefore mainly have to train on the rollers in the beginning and try to avoid a crash."
This means that, in the space of five weeks, it's very unlikely that van Aert will resume intensity training and take to the start of the Giro. He had ruled out a participation at the Tour de France this year as he focused on different goals including the Olympic Games. This race should not be at risk for the time being, however his calendar will most likely be completely turned on it's head.
"It is important to review his medical situation week by week. The Olympic Games? If he can return to competition after 2 or 3 months, that is perfectly feasible. But that is of course a piece of cake," he concludes.
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Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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Just a very deep bow to our Wout, who has made all kinds of sacrifices over the past few months to be at his best in the spring classics. The shape was there, but unfortunately luck was not on his side. ❤️🩹 Cycling is a wonderful sport. But at the same time, top sport is also so
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