"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

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."

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.”