(Brussels) Belgian Wout Van Aert, forced to retire after a heavy fall during the 16e stage of the Tour of Spain has decided to end his season to treat a serious injury to his right knee, his team announced in a statement on Thursday.
“He needs time to recover,” said the Visma-Lease a Bike team, confirming that the rider, winner of four stages of the Vuelta and leader of the points and mountains classifications, does not suffer from any fracture, but from a deep knee injury.
The Antwerp native was back in top form on the Spanish roads after also winning the bronze medal in the Olympic time trial at the end of July, six months after his terrible retirement from A Travers la Flandre at the end of March.
He suffered fractures to his collarbone, sternum and several ribs, as well as a contusion to his lung. These injuries forced him to abandon his two major objectives of the spring, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
In total, this season, he has been involved in no fewer than ten falls.
Van Aert will therefore withdraw from the European Road Cycling Championships in Belgian Limburg on September 15, and from the World Championships in Zurich on September 29.