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Follow us on GoogleWout van Aert is back in action, but the Belgian star of Visma | Lease a Bike had to cool expectations — as has happened more than once in recent years. After a run of physical setbacks across the last few seasons, he was hit this winter by a small ankle fracture from cyclo-cross and, more recently, a viral stomach bug. IDLProCycling.com was on the ground at Le Samyn and listened in as Van Aert explained where he stands.
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Van Aert’s 2026 programme was — and still is — built around one clear goal: peaking for the Spring Classics. That is why he had already crossed off the Cyclo-cross World Championships and planned to begin his road campaign at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The same kind of choices were made a year ago too, when the aftermath of a serious knee injury from the Vuelta a España shaped his winter. This time, though, there was hope for a smooth, problem-free build-up.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be again. On 2 January, Van Aert saw his shortened cyclo-cross winter come to an abrupt end in Mol, where he landed hard on his ankle in a corner. Doctors diagnosed a small fracture. He has since recovered fully from that injury, but after a strong altitude camp in Sierra Nevada, another setback followed.
“It was a nasty stomach bug,” Van Aert said at the start of Le Samyn, where he made his season debut two days after Opening Weekend. “It wasn’t pleasant, but since Saturday I’ve been feeling better and I can ride again. It’s been a long time since I raced, so it feels incredibly good to get going again. I don’t feel any pressure today, because we’ll have to see how my body reacts.”
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Van Aert's ankle took a serious hit after his crash in Mol.
Van Aert struggled to eat properly for several days
“There are a lot of questions, and I hope to have more answers tonight,” Van Aert continued. “I’m hoping for a good race, a good feeling, and that I can race aggressively.” But the Belgian made it clear he had been hit hard after Sierra Nevada. “For a few days I couldn’t eat the way you’re supposed to. On the bike I still felt a bit weak, so I’m hoping I’ve got enough strength again to perform.”
It didn’t sound overly positive — and Van Aert also stressed that getting ill after an altitude block is far from ideal. “When you’ve just done a really heavy training block, it’s important to recover well. That only works with the right nutrition, and that wasn’t possible. It was a strong viral infection, but in the last few days I’ve been able to eat normally again.”
In theory, Van Aert had been set for more of a supporting role within Visma | Lease a Bike, but with intended leader Christophe Laporte forced out, most eyes still turned to him. “That does change things,” he admitted. “Christophe was in good shape and he really could have won here. Now it will depend more on me — but let’s see how the body feels. I honestly have no idea if I can win.”
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Van Aert needs to build step by step after missing Opening Weekend
Before the start of Le Samyn, Van Aert at least made one thing clear: he wanted to race — whether that meant suffering or finding good legs. The key word was small steps, the ones he had hoped to take during Opening Weekend. After all, Strade Bianche is already coming up on Saturday, and then it’s barely a month until the Tour of Flanders.
By now, Van Aert is used to last-minute changes of plan — and he kept his big smile too. “I did feel disappointed when I missed Omloop Het Nieuwsblad,” he said, “but I also saw a lot of riders hit the deck. It looked chaotic, so in the end I didn’t mind quite as much that I wasn’t there.”
“Omloop was the benchmark I’d worked towards all winter, so yes, that was frustrating. But by the time the race actually started, the disappointment was already gone.”
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026
- Is the Valdigne time trial uphill all the way, or are there flatter sections too? I’m still figuring out how these stages work.jennifer1903-11-2026
- Three sprint chances, then all that climbing? The GC battle should really take shape after Passo San Marco. Can’t wait!robert6503-11-2026
- Finishing on the same day the men race Stage 20 is a nice touch, but I hope the women’s race gets plenty of coverage too.pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Three mountain finishes and an uphill time trial—this route looks tailor-made for Vollering. That final stage to Mont Blanc could be brutal.cadencekingm03-11-2026
- Seixas has said he’s bored with the transfer talk, so maybe the article could give more space to the racing itself. He’s under contract until 2027; there’s no need to turn every appearance into a signing saga.velodromevirtuoso103-11-2026
