“I feared I might have to have my leg amputated”: Toon Aerts reveals nightmare medical ordeal following season-ending crash

Toon Aerts will be unable to defend his European cyclocross title this November after a serious crash and subsequent medical complications derailed his winter campaign. The Belgian's recovery has been more difficult than initially expected, with an infection in his injured knee becoming so severe that he briefly feared he might lose his leg.

Aerts had enjoyed an impressive road season with Lotto-Intermarché, taking second place on stage 12 of the Giro d'Italia and coming close to winning a stage at the Tour of Denmark.

He also made his debut in two of cycling's biggest one-day races, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. However, his season came to an abrupt end during the final stage of the Danish race, when he suffered a heavy crash.

The initial injuries included a fractured scaphoid, but the damage to his knee proved even more serious. Aerts was pushed across the finish line by teammate Taminiaux before the extent of his injuries became clear.

“I immediately realized it was a serious crash, but I got back up and my teammate Taminiaux pushed me across the finish line,” Aerts told Het Nieuwsblad.

The Belgian subsequently underwent surgery for a fractured kneecap. Although the operation initially appeared to have gone well, his recovery took a worrying turn three weeks later, when he developed a fever at home.

Aerts had not initially experienced significant pain in his knee, but his general condition deteriorated. “Three weeks after the operation on my knee, I was at home with a fever. My knee didn't hurt, but I simply felt ill. The team doctor came by to check whether I had COVID. At the same time, he wanted to have my blood tested. The next morning, at seven o'clock, he was already on the phone,” Aerts recalled.

The results revealed extremely high inflammation markers, while his knee had become severely swollen, and the situation was serious enough for Aerts to fear the worst.

“My inflammation markers turned out to be incredibly high, and I had to go to the emergency department immediately. By then, my knee was enormously swollen, and I couldn't stand the pain anymore. It might sound ridiculous now, and disrespectful to people who have actually gone through it, but for a moment I feared I might have to have my leg amputated. My knee was full of dirt, and I underwent surgery that same afternoon,” he said.

The infection returned several days later, extending his hospital stay. Because the bacteria could also affect his heart, Aerts had to undergo several examinations by a cardiologist. He eventually spent two weeks in hospital, receiving antibiotics intravenously every four hours.

The Belgian is now following an intensive rehabilitation program, although returning to normal training remains a distant prospect.

“It's a painful rehabilitation. During the week, I go to the physiotherapist twice a day. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we work in the swimming pool. I also go once on Saturday, while Sunday is my rest day. The sessions are quite long, comparable to my training sessions. I still can't ride a bike, apart from using a spinning bike with the saddle set far too high,” he explained.

The injury means Aerts will miss the European Championships in Zeddam, where he was due to defend the title he won in 2025.

There is, however, some positive news in his personal life. Aerts and his partner Tamara are expecting their first child in January, following the loss of their unborn baby just five days after his European Championship triumph last year.

On the sporting side, the 32-year-old has not abandoned the possibility of returning before the end of the current cyclocross season.

“Yes, I hope to race cyclocross again this season, although I realize there is also a chance that it won't happen,” Aerts said. “I would like to make it to the World Championships in Oostende, so I can finally ride a World Championships with spectators there.”