Wout van Aert is back! Belgian star set to return at Tour of Denmark in build-up for Vuelta a España
Cycling
Wout van Aert is ready to return to competition after nearly two months on the sidelines. The Belgian star is expected to make his comeback at the Tour of Denmark next week, using the five-day stage race as his final preparation before targeting the Vuelta a España later this summer.
Tour of Denmark to mark Van Aert's return
According to reports from Belgian media, Van Aert will line up at the Tour of Denmark, which begins on Wednesday, July 29, marking his first race since withdrawing from the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and ultimately missing the Tour de France.
The Visma | Lease a Bike rider was initially dealing with an elbow injury sustained during a training crash before the Critérium du Dauphiné. However, the situation worsened after an infection developed in the wound, forcing him to abandon his Tour ambitions.
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Unable to train properly and having missed the team's altitude camp, Visma | Lease a Bike opted to shift Van Aert's focus toward the second half of the season, with the Vuelta a España becoming his primary objective.
In recent weeks, the Belgian has steadily increased his training load, including a six-hour gravel ride around Livigno, signaling that his recovery is progressing well ahead of his return to racing.
Wout van Aert on stage 5 of the 2026 Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Building toward the Vuelta after missing the Tour
The Tour of Denmark also holds good memories for Van Aert. He made his debut in the race back in 2018 while riding for Vérandas Willems-Crelan and immediately claimed the overall victory. During that edition, he also won the second stage and helped teammate Tim Merlier secure two sprint victories and the points classification.
Before his injury setback, Van Aert's season had shown signs of turning around. After struggling early at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, he bounced back with victory on the fifth stage. That success followed the biggest triumph of his career earlier this spring, when he defeated Tadej Pogacar to win Paris-Roubaix.
The Belgian is now expected to continue his build-up toward the Vuelta a España, where he hopes to replicate his outstanding 2024 debut. That year, he claimed three stage victories before crashing out and abandoning on stage 16, which was his last raceday of the season.
Following the Vuelta, Van Aert is also expected to represent Belgium at the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, where he is set to be part of a powerful national team aiming to challenge defending world champion Tadej Pogacar.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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