"Wout has recovered quite well after the Vuelta... No major or permanent problems" - Edoardo Affini gives positive update on Visma teammate Van Aert

When and where Wout van Aert is set to return to racing isn't yet known, but according to the Belgian's Team Visma | Lease a Bike teammate, Edoardo Affini, but the three-time cyclocross world champion is basically back to full fitness after his road season-ending crash at the Vuelta a Espana.

"Wout has recovered quite well after the Vuelta. He seems to be in full recovery, there have been no major or permanent problems," shares the European time trial champion Affini, in conversation with Bici Pro, optimistic about the Belgian's prospects for the coming winter despite the seriousness of his injuries. "Certainly a knee injury requires time to be absorbed properly."

"Now he will see what to do with cyclocross , it is clear that he felt a little more pain during the race. The vibrations due to the impact with the ground are different from the stress of the bike," the 28-year-old Italian adds. "But I know that he has also started running again, building everything from the base with the aim of returning to his usual pace. Personally, I saw him as always, without any particular worries."

Van Aert, Affini and the rest of the Team Visma | Lease a Bike squad are currently regrouping at their December training camp. "Ours is a meeting that we do every year. The classics group takes part, a large group. We do tests on the materials and the new guys get familiar with the vehicles and equipment," Affini explains. "The roads we pedalled on are those of Roubaix and Flanders. All done at a leisurely pace, but it's always good to refresh your memory."

As for Affini himself, 2024 was a breakthrough season for the Italian, winning the European time trial title and finishing on the podium of the World Championship race against the clock. "What I have left from the last period are definitely the results. But these are accompanied by the joy of having shared them with my family, with my partner and also her parents," he recalls. "It's nice to do something like this, like at the European Championship, and have them there to share everything in real life. There's certainly no lack of enthusiasm on the phone, but living it is another thing. My parents were also at the World Championship. Getting on the podium and seeing them in the crowd was an immense source of pride and pleasure."