"In the second half of my career I would like to match what I achieved in the first part" - Toon Aerts already planning cyclocross comeback
Cyclocross
Despite having been on the receiving end of a 2-year ban by the UCI for a positive doping test, Baloise - Trek Lions rider Toon Aerts is already planning for his cyclocross comeback.
The 29-year-old who denies the claims made by cycling's governing body and is soon set to take legal action is confident this won't be the end of his career at the top level of cyclocross. “I would like to work towards some big victory again,” Aerts says. "In the second half of my career I would like to match what I achieved in the first part."
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The Belgian tested positive for the banned Letrozole Metabolite on January 19, 2022, and has not been seen in a competitive race since. If his suspected appeal fails to overturn the ban, Aerts will be forbidden from racing until February 2024 at which point the cyclocross season will be all but complete. "If I can't start again until September 2024, I'll be fine by Christmas 2024."
So intent is Aerts on proving his innocence, that the Belgian has spent the year growing out his hair with the plan being to use the follicles to clear his name. Thankfully for Aerts, the final hair analysis has now been taken and as such he has been able to trim his hair to the short length has been more accustomed to. "The results of the new hair analysis have shown that Letrozole has not been found since last summer. So the exposure to the product stopped after the previous cross season, so it probably comes from food supplements.”
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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