End of cyclocross season for Van Aert due to ankle fracture

Wout van Aert's cyclocross season is over after examinations confirmed the 31-year-old sustained a sprained ankle and a small fracture as a result of his crash in Mol on Friday.

Van Aert was locked in a battle for the victory in Mol with Mathieu van der Poel at the start of lap 7 when the incident occurred. The World Champion, Van der Poel, slipped going round but managed to keep himself upright. Van Aert, who was in the wheel, was unable to react and crashed on the corner, landing heavily on his knee and ankle. 

Despite his attempts to continue, Van Aert was forced to abandon the race once he reached the pit area. After examinations, it was confirmed by Visma | Lease a Bike that the Belgian sustained a sprained ankle and a small fracture, which forced the end of his cyclocross season.

Van Aert was expected to race the UCI World Cup round in Zonhoven on Sunday before tackling the Belgian Championships. In total, Van Aert raced six times this cyclocross season with two second-place finishes.

“Of course, I am very disappointed to have to end my cyclocross season like this,” said Van Aert. 

“I was feeling better and better, including today in Mol. I was really looking forward to the race in Zonhoven and the Belgian Championships. But my focus will now be on recovery and, later on, the preparation of the road season," added the Belgian.

Van Aert will undergo surgery on Saturday before focusing on his recovery ahead of the upcoming road season with Visma | Lease a Bike.

After the setback at the 2024 Vuelta and its lingering effects at the start of 2025, Van Aert had hoped for a trouble free winter in the build up to the 2026 season. Speaking recently on the Team Visma | Lease a Bike podcast, he said he wished for “just a smooth run into my main objectives.”