"Wout's injuries are not too bad" - Visma clear Van Aert for high intensity training and Tour of Flanders is not at risk

Wout van Aert showed tremendous form at the E3 Saxo Classic following an altitude camp in Teide but his chances of winning were severely cut when he crashed on the Paterberg. The fall saw Mathieu van der Poel slip away to victory, but the Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider is not at risk of missing out on the Tour of Flanders.

“No one has ever recovered after a fall, but Wout's injuries are not too bad," team DS Marteen Wynants told Het Laatste Nieuws. “On Saturday, just like Matteo Jorgenson, he was able to get that extra incentive the day after the race, to now rest for a while and digest the expected dip after his altitude training. From this week onwards his condition will only crescendo.”

The Belgian crashed whilst fighting for positioning in the first meters of the climb, a dramatic moment which to many decided the race. He suffered minor injuries to the elbow and hip after having crashed on his right side, complained after the finish, but has since recovered from them. He has already been training long distances again.

Van Aert did not race Gent - Wevelgem but will be present at Dwars door Vlaanderen later this week; it will be his final stepping stone towards Flanders where he hopes to finally take a victory to add to his palmarès. At Dwars door Vlaanderen he should be a very big favourite in the absence of Mathieu van der Poel.