These were Wout van Aert’s very recent comments to Ten Dam about getting ill more often

After his 2025 season ended relatively early — and following a sponsor trip to the United States — Van Aert initially planned to return to cyclo-cross. But just as he was getting going, he had to stop early after a small ankle fracture sustained in Mol. That meant no Belgian cyclo-cross nationals in January, and no Worlds either, which already came with a big question mark.

Van Aert then headed to altitude in Sierra Nevada to build form, despite a training camp that began in very poor weather. Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was set to be his season opener — until sickness struck again.

When Van Aert will now start racing in 2026 remains unclear for the moment. In a team statement, he said: “We had a good training camp in the Sierra Nevada and I felt very strong. I remain positive about how I felt during the training and I’m confident I can race again soon.”

It is not the first time Van Aert has been absent from a race because of illness. Aside from the physical injuries he has dealt with in recent years, he missed the 2022 Tour of Flanders due to a COVID infection, and he also fell ill in the build-up to the 2023 road season after his cyclo-cross winter.

In the Live Slow Ride Fast podcast, Van Aert told Laurens ten Dam in January that he feels he has been getting sick more often than before. “Unfortunately it happens too often these days. In the past, I never got sick. I’m much more susceptible now — and I’ve been frustrated about that quite often,” Van Aert explained.

“Is it because of the kids? Sometimes I also think that since COVID we all get sick more quickly,” he wondered, while making clear he does not want to isolate himself completely ahead of his big goals.

“I want to be a normal dad and give our kids a normal upbringing. I don’t want to keep them home from school to avoid illnesses. There isn’t a hair on my head that would even consider that.”