While the Giro tempts him with a perfect opening weekend, Van Aert shares new footage of his knee
Cycling
Follow IDL Pro Cycling on Google
Stay up to date with the best cycling news by making us a preferred source on Google.
Follow us on GoogleIt's been more than four months since that unfortunate crash by Wout van Aert in the Vuelta a España. The collision on the rock wall, initially seemingly harmless, took a big chunk out of his cycling year for the Belgian of Visma | Lease a Bike. The start of the cyclo-cross season was also postponed. Meanwhile, Van Aert is successfully back in the field, but that knee still doesn't look good.
ADVERTISEMENT
On Instagram, Van Aert shared some footage from the second week of January. These included shots of the training camp in Spain and Georges' birthday. His son turned three years old, and that was celebrated abundantly. But the physio treatments have also become a standard activity for dad Van Aert. He shared a video of a session with the specialist, and the pictures of the knee were still not pleasant to look at. And that after four months...
After an extensive rehabilitation, Van Aert returned to the field in December. After a fourth place in the Azencross of Loenhout, where he also crashed, he returned super strong in the Superprestige of Gullegem, where he defeated Eli Iserbyt. A day later, he was victorious in Dendermonde, relegating the rest of the field to a proper mud bath with a fantastic display of power. This weekend, he will be at the start of the Benidorm World Cup in Spain, which he won last year.
Read more below the post!
Giro d'Italia tempts Van Aert with fantastic opening weekend
The 30-year-old all-rounder will likely compete in the Giro d'Italia in the new road season. After a busy spring, with the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix as big goals, he will head to Albania to start the Italian grand tour. On Monday, the Giro's route was announced, and it became clear that it suits Van Aert. In particular, the opening weekend is perfect for him: with two hilly stages and a time trial, it could be an ideal start.
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'.
IDL-productions
Onley, Dickson, Thornley and now Mason; Scotland is punching way above its cycling weight
Cyclocross legend Lars van der Haar had a tough time after retiring from cyclocross: 'It was over pretty quickly'
Celia Gery won the European cyclocross championship while awaiting surgery: 'It'll be a new beginning'
Dutch team coach De Knegt annoyed by European Cyclocross Championships dispute: "A bit of a let down"
Glasgow set to shine as World Cup demand outstrips expectations and Mason eyes first home cyclocross race
Latest Cycling News
Michael Vanthourenhout's severe crash overshadows thrilling men's cyclocross race in merksplas
Thibau Nys offers glimpse into unbelievable cyclocross comeback: 'That uncertainty, that struggle with self-confidence'
Complications surround Wout van Aert's World Cyclocross Championship start
Thibau Nys and Lucinda Brand's team lose title sponsor in the middle of the cyclocross season
Onley, Dickson, Thornley and now Mason; Scotland is punching way above its cycling weight
Popular Cycling News
Pidcock's turbocharged vacation leads to struggles on the bike: 'No wonder people think cycling is hard'
Mads Pedersen weighs in on Lucinda Brand and Marie Schreiber's European Cyclocross Championship clash
Thibau Nys and Lucinda Brand's team lose title sponsor in the middle of the cyclocross season
Extensive evidence of use of N-word, homophobia, and Asian-hate by track cyclist Matthew Richardson revealed
Michael Vanthourenhout's severe crash overshadows thrilling men's cyclocross race in merksplas
Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026