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Wout van Aert, Belgium’s most unlucky yet talented cyclist, is once again facing a setback as he prepares for the Giron d’Italia. The Visma-Lease a Bike rider revealed on Wednesday that a viral infection has disrupted his training and jeopardized his ambitions of wearing the coveted pink jersey.
Van Aert, who has been struggling with illness since narrowly missing the podium at the Amstel Gold Race on April 20, admitted that his preparation for the Giro has been far from ideal. “Pink has become more of a dream than reality,” he said during a pre-Giro press conference. “I haven’t been able to do any good training after the Amstel Gold Race except for Tuesday. The infection kept dragging on, and I’ve been in the dark about my form.”
The 30-year-old had been targeting the opening stage of the Giro, a short and explosive route in Albania, as a chance to complete his collection of grand tour stage wins. However, his illness has made it unlikely that he can compete with favorites like Mads Pedersen and Tom Pidcock. “The intention was to be at my best from the first day, but that’s much less likely now,” Van Aert said.
Van Aert’s recent struggles are a continuation of a challenging year. In 2024, he suffered two serious crashes that derailed his spring classics campaign and forced him to postpone his Giro debut. Despite a strong showing in the spring classics this year, including several near-misses, his illness has once again thrown a wrench in his plans.
Visma-Lease a Bike had high hopes for Van Aert, with team director Marc Reef acknowledging that a healthy Van Aert would have been a contender for the pink jersey in the early stages. “In the most optimistic scenario, he might have been able to hold onto it for a few days,” Reef said.
However, Van Aert remains determined to make the most of the Giro. He has ruled out abandoning the race early to focus on the Tour de France, where he will play a key support role for teammate Jonas Vingegaard. Instead, he is focused on regaining his form and contributing to the team’s success. “If I get better from the first few days, I’ll be able to pick up all the effort from before,” he said.
Van Aert’s resilience and determination have been hallmarks of his career, and he remains a key figure for Visma-Lease a Bike. While his chances of winning the pink jersey may be slim, he is still a contender for stage victories and will play a crucial role in supporting teammate Olav Kooij in the sprints.
As the Giro d’Italia kicks off, Van Aert’s story is a reminder of the unpredictable nature of professional cycling. Despite the setbacks, he remains a fighter, ready to take on whatever challenges the race throws his way.
