Wout van Aert had to abandon the Vuelta a Espana 2024 on the 16th stage. The three-time stage winner was part of a breakaway group 50 kilometres from the finish when Felix Engelhardt (Team Jayco-AlUla), Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) and van Aert crashed in a left-hand bend on the descent from Collada Llomena (1st category) on a slippery road. The three-time cross world champion initially got back on his bike, but stopped shortly afterwards and got into a team car.
Visma | Lease a Bike comments on Wout van Aert's crash injuries
In the meantime, van Aert has undergone further examinations and his team has given an update on his injuries. According to this, van Aert has not suffered any fractures. "The three-time stage winner had to retire due to severe knee pain caused by a deep wound. This wound needs intensive treatment. Wout will be travelling back to Belgium to continue his recovery," according to a statement from Visma | Lease a Bike. Van Aert is therefore out for the rest of the season, as his team confirmed in a further update on Thursday.
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Shortly after the start of the stage, the Visma | Lease a Bike pro crashed once, but then managed to join the breakaway group and won two mountain classifications before crashing again on the descent from Collada Llomena and retiring.
Van Aert had returned to top form for the first time at the Tour of Spain 2024, winning three stages after recovering from his heavy crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen at the end of March. At the time of his withdrawal from the Vuelta, the Belgian was also riding in the leader's jersey in the points classification and was also leading the mountains classification.
