Van Aert Withdraws from Tour de France Due to Elbow Injury: Team Visma | Lease a Bike Prepares Replacement
Wout van Aert will not be participating in the upcoming Tour de France due to an ongoing elbow injury that has not fully healed in time for the race. The injury occurred when he crashed during training before the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, leading to an infection in the wound on his elbow. Despite receiving treatment and spending time in the hospital, Van Aert's recovery has not progressed as expected.
After discussions with medical staff and performance coaches from Team Visma | Lease a Bike, it was decided that Van Aert's health and full recovery take precedence over participating in the Tour de France. Van Aert expressed his disappointment as the Tour is one of his main goals each year, but he understands the importance of prioritizing his recovery to return to his best form later in the season.
Race coach Marc Reef emphasized the significance of Van Aert to the team and the desire to have him at the Tour de France. However, with the necessary recovery process still ongoing, it was determined that Van Aert would not be able to achieve top form in time for the race. The team respects the decision made for Van Aert's well-being and looks forward to his return to competition.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike is prepared for potential withdrawals and has replacements ready for every position, including for Van Aert at the Tour de France. The announcement of who will replace Van Aert in the final Tour de France selection will be made by the team on June 23. The team remains focused on the upcoming race and ensuring a competitive lineup for the Tour de France.