Wout van Aert “feeling fit again” on return to racing but Visma warn “we shouldn’t expect miracles”

Relief and restraint defined the mood at Le Samyn as Wout van Aert finally returned to racing, but with his team making clear that expectations must remain grounded.

“I’m recovered,” Van Aert told VTM Nieuws ahead of the race. “I’m feeling fit again after quite a heavy stomach bug. For a few days, I wasn’t eating as I should have. On the bike, I’ve felt a bit weak so far. I’m curious whether I’m fit enough to perform. If things go well, I want to make it an aggressive race."

“It was frustrating to get sick at exactly that moment," he admits. "Omloop is a real benchmark race that you work towards all winter. The disappointment had already been processed before the start.”

Those words offered reassurance after a winter already disrupted by an ankle fracture and surgery, followed by illness that forced him to miss Opening Weekend. But inside the Team Visma | Lease a Bike camp, the tone was more measured.

Sports director Grischa Niermann struck that balance before the start. “It’s not that serious,” he said regarding Christophe Laporte’s absence. “Christophe has a cold. He could ride, but we don’t want to take any risks.”

Laporte’s late withdrawal added another complication on a day already framed as a reset. And when it came to Van Aert’s condition, Niermann was clear. “But we shouldn’t expect miracles from Wout today. He has been quite ill. He is not yet one hundred percent. Wout is still our leader.”

The contrast was striking. Van Aert feels fit again. The team insist he is not yet at full capacity.

Van Aert says he feels fit again. But he also admits he has felt weak on the bike and is “curious” whether he is ready to perform.

After an ankle fracture, surgery, and then a heavy stomach illness that forced him to miss Omloop, this return comes with limited race preparation and disrupted training rhythm.

Visma’s caution reflects that reality. He is back. He is not yet at one hundred percent.

Le Samyn will show how close he really is.