An illness has forced Wout van Aert to cancel his season opener. The Belgian classics specialist will not be able to line up at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday, Team Visma | Lease a Bike has announced. The 31-year-old had won the race in 2022 and wanted to start his road season there.
Preparation not going to plan for Wout van Aert
Wout van Aert had trained specifically for the spring classics throughout the winter, but also raced Cyclocross races on the side. At the beginning of January, the Belgian suffered an ankle fracture in one such race, but was quickly able to return to training. The training camp in the Sierra Nevada then went well and Wout van Aert said he felt in good shape. The illness has now hit him at the worst possible time, just before his first race on the road.
Mattio takes over starting position
Pietro Mattio replaces van Aert in the Team Visma|Lease a Bike squad. The Belgian is taking the time he needs to recover before starting the classics season. It is not yet clear when exactly van Aert will contest his first race. However, the top rider could be fit again for the Strade Bianche on 7 March. The spring classics are probably the biggest highlight of the cycling season for van Aert.
Leon Weidner
Working student
