Wout Van Aert 'not in the best shape' but confirms Tour of Norway return for Visma-Lease a Bike
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Updated 17/05/2024 at 13:02 GMT
Wout van Aert is set to return to competitive cycling at the Tour of Norway after injury. Van Aert, of Visma-Lease a Bike, suffered serious injuries following a crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen in March, and saw his spring programme wiped out as a result. But now there is better news as the Belgian looks forward to "pinning on a race number again." The Tour of Norway runs from May 23-26.
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Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) has confirmed his return to cycling at the forthcoming Tour of Norway after injury, but admits he is "not in the best shape".
Van Aert, 29, continues to recover from a horror crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen, where he broke his collarbone, sternum and seven ribs.
It was an incident that ruled him out of the rest of the Classics season as well as the Giro d'Italia, where he had been set to make his debut.
But now he is set to get back on the bike competitively at the event that begins in Voss on May 23.
Speaking to the Visma-Lease a Bike website, Van Aert said: "I'm not in the best shape; it's a test. But I'm looking forward to it.
"It hasn't always been easy sitting on the sidelines, but fortunately, I can now look ahead again."
He added: "I am looking forward to pinning on a race number again.
"I have been able to train more and more in recent weeks, but it is still different from racing.
"So, my main goal is to test myself and see how I do in a race. Without any expectations.
"We are taking things one step at a time. That has proven to be the best way to recover."
Sports director Merijn Zeeman says Van Aert will go to the start line in Norway "without any pressure to perform."
He said: "It's great to have Wout back in the team after his crash. He starts without any pressure to perform.
"This is a good moment for him to test himself in competition again. We don't know yet what the rest of his race schedule will look like.
"We will see in the coming weeks."
The Tour of Norway contains four stages, finishing in Stavanger on May 26.
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