Wout Van Aert returns home with 'severe knee pain' after Vuelta crash / Photo: MIGUEL RIOPA - AFP
Wout Van Aert returns home with 'severe knee pain' after Vuelta crash
Wout van Aert has returned home after suffering a painful knee injury but no fracture in the crash that ended his involvement in the Vuelta a Espana, the Belgian's Visma-Lease team said on Wednesday.
Van Aert, winner of three stages in the race and leading both the mountain and points classification, was forced to pull out on Tuesday after a heavy fall in the 16th stage.
His team reported: "Wout van Aert has not suffered any fractures from his crash in La Vuelta.
"The three-time stage winner had to withdraw due to severe knee pain caused by a deep wound. That wound requires intensive care. Wout will travel back to Belgium to continue his recovery."
The 29-year-old rider has endured a tough 2024, suffering multiple fractures after a bone-crunching high speed fall in March in the Tour of Flanders which forced him to miss the remaining Spring one-day classics.
But he returned in good form and picked up an Olympic time-trial bronze medal in Paris in July.
Tuesday's latest tumble has thrown into doubt his participation in the road world championships in Zurich at the end of the month.
H.Giordano--IM
