Toon Aerts tested positive for Letrozole on the 19th of January in an out-of-competition test and has since had very little updates. Baloise - Trek Lions manager Sven Nys is unhappy with the situation, and is demanding answers from the UCI.
“I want to get answers for once. An acceleration in communication," Nys said in an interview with Wielerflits. "Whether that is negative or positive. But we don't know anything more than seven months after the date. This is frustrating for everyone. Of course, it is not allowed to go ice cream overnight. I realize that too. But why does it have to take so long?"
Aerts, the winner of the X20 Badkamers Trofee, had the positive test result towards the end of the season, hence not affecting his schedule meaningfully. However with the new season set to start in the coming weeks, Nys is looking for answers: "This is not good for anyone. Not for the reputation for the UCI, not for the rider in question and not for the team that pays him. We have continued to support him even though he has been inactive since February. That is financially a tough one for a team whose rider does not compete.”
“Very bizarre, that way of working. We are a third party and have to get our information through the rider, but they are also in the dark. And when a question is put to the UCI, it sometimes takes two months before a response is received. But now we really want answers. Not just rider and team, but also our sponsors," he added.
The men's Elite team is set to be led by Lars van der Haar, with Pim Ronhaar and Thibau Nys also as options, and leading riders in the under-23 category. Aert's presence is important however, and the Belgian has not stopped training since the news broke. “My greatest admiration for that. Toon did not give up, but quickly turned the tide and has been working hard for months. During tests he pedals wattages that he never achieved before. He has released his frustration on the bike," Nys said.
“Is there still a chance that he will stay with us longer? Never say never, but if things turn out well for his case, he may be on his way to another story," he reveals. "But we're going to handle that properly anyway. We have had a lot of fun with Toon in recent years and I hope that we will continue to do so in the coming months, preferably as soon as possible. Everything is ready for the start of the season.”
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- b.s. headline. Jonas wasn't told anything, it is just a pundit telling him what to do. the actual article is not even close to the insinuation of the headline.mij15-11-2026
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- If you go watch some races from last season other riders that have never caught Jonas...are now catching him. Some are just riding away from him and he can't hold the wheelmd197514-11-2026
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- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
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