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Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) will not race the Giro d’Italia after the accidents he sustained in a crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen two weeks in the past.
The Belgian had been planning his Grand Tour schedule round a well-publicised assault on the Giro, however after struggling fractures to his ribs, sternum and collarbone just a few days earlier than the Tour of Flanders, the workforce confirmed on Thursday that he’ll not goal the Italian race.
Although Van Aert says his restoration goes nicely, he’s not but in a position to practice, and there are solely 23 days earlier than the beginning of the primary Grand Tour of the season.
“A whole lot of [the] accidents are fairly good in the mean time, however my ribs are nonetheless a limiting issue. So at this level I can’t practice in any respect. I’m making an attempt to do my first pedal strokes on the bike, however not sufficient to have the ability to practice. That’s the reason we made the choice to not begin within the Giro d’Italia,” Van Aert defined in a video launched by his workforce.
“It’s an enormous disgrace. I’m actually disenchanted to overlook additionally my second massive purpose of the season, however at this second I have to prioritise my well being, and I want to offer my physique the time to get better.”
Christophe Laporte will exchange Van Aert in Visma-Lease a Bike’s workforce for the Giro, which begins in Turin in simply over three weeks’ time.
Van Aert was concerned in a high-speed crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen on 27 March, which additionally noticed the likes of Jasper Stuyven and Alex Kirsch’s Classics seasons come to an finish with numerous accidents. Van Aert underwent surgical procedure on his collarbone shortly after the crash.
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On account of his fractures, the 29-year-old missed the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, which had been the point of interest of his Classics season, however his workforce remained considerably optimistic about his probabilities of recovering in time for the Giro, his second season objective.
Nevertheless, Thursday was the primary time Van Aert has spoken publicly since crashing, and it was to substantiate that he wouldn’t be again in time for Turin.
He did add: “I’m actually joyful to inform you that I’m doing nicely. I’m recovering from all my accidents in the mean time.”
The workforce confirmed that Laporte would exchange the Belgian in Italy subsequent month, however didn’t counsel what Van Aert’s revised programme could appear to be, and whether or not which will embody the Tour de France.
In addition to Van Aert’s absence from the Giro, there are questions over the workforce’s Tour chief Jonas Vingegaard, who can be out injured after crashing in Itzulia Basque Nation. The team have said it is too early to reflect on his participation in the Tour or probabilities of defending his yellow jersey title.
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