Van Aert pulls Roglic during a stage of the Paris-Nice. /
Jumbo
The Belgian cyclist, who has just overcome Covid-19, has made the decision together with his team’s medical services
Belgian champion Wout van Aert, absent from the Tour of Flanders due to Covid-19, will be present this Sunday, April 18, at the start of Paris-Roubaix, although with a secondary role as a domestique, the Jumbo announced this Thursday. Thus, initially, Van Aert will be there to help “Laporte or Teunissen”, as its director Merijn Zeeman pointed out on Wednesday
The cyclist has received the green light “after exhaustive tests” and a “carefully matured” decision together with the team’s medical services. “Wout’s health is doing very well. But, after a week of isolation, the best way is obviously not possible, “Zeeman estimated. This yes, neither has closed the door to that he can play an important role.
Winner of Het Nieuwsbland in February and the E3 Classic in March, van Aert has not competed since Ghent-Wevelgem on March 27. On the three occasions that he has played Paris-Roubaix, the Belgian champion has achieved seventh place in October 2021 as the best result, an edition in which the Italian from Bahrain Sonny Colbrelli won ahead of Florian Vermeersch (Lotto-Soudal) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin) in a sprint that will go down in history.
