Wout van Aert’s recovery is progressing faster than initially expected, according to Visma | Lease a Bike sports director Jan Boven, just days after the Belgian star fractured his ankle during the race in Mol.
Van Aert initially described his rehabilitation as a “day-by-day” process, but for an elite athlete of his level, progress has already outpaced early expectations. Speaking to IDLProCycling.com, Boven provided insight into both the crash itself and the encouraging steps that have followed.
“You Could See the Ankle Swell Immediately”
Boven was present in Mol when Van Aert went down and explained how the seriousness of the injury became clear only moments after the fall.
“When he fell, I thought it might be alright,” Boven recalled. “At first it mostly seemed unlucky that he landed on his knee, which wasn’t in great shape already. But once he stopped, you could see his ankle swell very quickly. That’s when I realised it wasn’t optimal.”
Van Aert was immediately taken to the team bus, where team doctor Claes was already waiting.
“That was straight to the team bus, and the speed of that was good because we could check the ankle immediately,” Boven said. “We then drove to the hospital in Herentals, where the diagnosis came, and the operation followed the next morning. It really couldn’t have been much quicker.”
Surgery, Then a Faster-Than-Expected Return to the Bike
Following surgery, initial expectations were cautious. The team believed Van Aert would likely be off the bike for at least a week before gradually resuming training.
However, the reality proved far more positive.
“After the surgery, we thought he wouldn’t be able to ride for one week,” Boven explained. “The idea was that cycling would come relatively quickly afterward—faster than walking.”
Instead, Van Aert surprised everyone.
“In the end, after three days he was already back on the rollers, and that went well,” Boven said.
That early success allowed Van Aert to begin rebuilding steadily, first indoors and then outdoors.
Van Aert: “We’re Taking It Day by Day”
Speaking earlier this week in La Nucia, Van Aert himself described how the injury feels during training and why cycling has been manageable despite the fracture.
“I was able to get on the rollers quite quickly again,” Van Aert said. “When I’m on the bike at a low intensity, it feels okay. My foot is essentially locked in my cycling shoe, so that’s doable.”
The fracture has been stabilized with a screw, but the surrounding ligaments still need time to heal.
“The fracture is fixed with a screw, and the ligaments around it need time to recover, so we are taking it day by day,” Van Aert added.
Six-Hour Training Rides in Spain
Following his initial return to training, the team traveled to Spain, where Van Aert has already been able to complete multiple road sessions. According to Boven, those rides have ranged from two and a half hours up to six hours, an encouraging sign so soon after injury.
“He feels good and has lost little fitness,” Boven said. “Of course, it’s not ideal—it’s still a broken foot—but the progress is very encouraging.”
For Visma | Lease a Bike, the biggest relief is that the injury does not appear to be long-term or season-altering.
Missed Races, But Long-Term Damage Limited
While the recovery has gone well, the crash did force Van Aert to miss several important events, including Zonhoven and the Belgian National Championships.
“Especially the nationals were a disappointment,” Boven admitted. “He was really looking forward to that race. In Loenhout and Mol, he felt like he was getting back into rhythm, so that was unlucky.”
Still, the overall outlook remains positive.
“But it is what it is,” Boven said. “I’m mostly happy that he was able to get back to doing his thing very quickly. If he had to sit still for two months, of course the situation would be very different.”
Eyes on Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Looking ahead, Visma | Lease a Bike remains cautiously optimistic about Van Aert’s spring campaign. One possible next target is Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, though no final decision has been confirmed.
“For the trajectory toward spring, there doesn’t seem to be too much damage,” Boven concluded.
For Van Aert and his team, the focus remains on steady progress—but six days after the crash, the signs are already pointing in the right direction.
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