Bruyneel thinks there's more going on with Van Aert's elbow: 'I'm pretty concerned'

Wout van Aert's DNF in the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is a major blow for Visma | Lease a Bike. Following examination, an infection was discovered in the wound on his elbow, potentially putting his Tour de France participation at risk. Johan Bruyneel thinks there might be even more to it, as he explains on his podcast THE MOVE.

Bruyneel didn't see Van Aert's withdrawal coming, after his stage win in stage five. "I was surprised to see that. We were already surprised at how much he struggled in the first three stages, including the team time trial, but then we found out he'd crashed in training on his time trial bike. It was his own mistake, he said. But he still won stage five, and everyone thought he was back."

That victory, incidentally, made a big impression on the Belgian. His compatriot at Visma | Lease a Bike has had sprints go less smoothly before, but in terms of explosiveness he looks to be right back to his best. "His motivation seemed to be back, and it's never easy to win, even though there were no top sprinters and he probably had to win that sprint. But in the morning, he decided not to start."

It all stemmed from that crash on the time trial bike. As the race went on, things only got worse: the team time trial in particular appears to have been a factor. As a result, Van Aert had to say goodbye to the French stage race so the injury could be examined. Bruyneel, however, thinks it's not simply a wound.

According to the former US Postal Service team manager, there could be more going on. "The elbow was swollen, without any real explanation. Looking at what the team management have been saying, I'm pretty concerned. I'm afraid it's something else, like a small fracture. Because if it's swollen, there's something there."

His DNF therefore makes sense. "If you have a problem with your elbow, it's completely illogical to ride those final mountain stages, especially not for results. If he was fit, he could ride the stages to work on his form. But the crash has had a bigger impact than anyone expected, including Van Aert himself. That also explains his performances in the first few stages."

The Tour de France is approaching, and it's not certain whether Van Aert will be able to start. "It's something to be concerned about, not just for Van Aert but for Visma | Lease a Bike too. Having him there or not makes a huge difference. And on top of that, they're also missing Laporte. Losing those two riders: for positioning, but also for the team time trial, they're really going to miss them. I hope they make it."

Laporte is dealing with a torn thigh muscle following a training crash. He'll probably miss out, but for his teammate there's still hope. Can Van Aert be there for the Tour? Even if he makes it, Bruyneel fears for the crucial first week. "Last year he started the Giro, and he struggled at the start there too, but he still managed to win a stage later on. He just wasn't good at all in the first few stages."

Author: David Bavin-Hobbs | LinkedIn | Email