The Belgian cycling fans were shocked yesterday morning: a sick Wout van Aert fit for the reconnaissance of the Tour of Flanders and questions were raised about his participation.
After a lot of speculation, the decision has now been made: it won’t start. The reason is a corona infection.
“It has been two hectic days,” says Van Aert himself on Instagram. “I woke up yesterday morning with a bit of a sore throat and two self-tests quickly showed that I was positive for corona. And two PCR tests have confirmed that. So I can’t start.”
“I only have mild symptoms, that’s the good news. That strengthens my hope that I will recover quickly and be back in action in the coming weeks.”
Van Aert does not know where he became infected. “I have made a lot of effort for two years not to get infected, especially in the last months and weeks. Of course there are risks during the race and apparently you can’t control it. seize the moment.”
“I am now focusing on my recovery, a full recovery. I will be Jumbo-Visma’s biggest fan on Sunday.”
After the Tour of Flanders, the most important appointments for Van Aert were the Amstel Gold Race (10/04) and Paris-Roubaix (17/04). It seems unlikely that he will be there (top fit) at the start.
