Bad luck again for Wout van Aert. The crash in the Zilvermeercross in Mol, which resulted in a broken ankle, not only put an end to his remaining cross winter, but also creates uncertainty heading into the spring. This is not the first setback for the leader of Visma | Lease a Bike. In the podcast THEMOVE, Johan Bruyneel thinks out loud about a possible farewell to the field.
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Good news?! Bruyneel sees a big advantage in Van Aert’s fall
Love for the cross
According to Johan Bruyneel, it is clear why riders such as Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel continue to return to the field. “If you look at those two, you see that they cross because they enjoy it,” he says.
“They love the sport, the atmosphere and the fans.” Financially it is no longer necessary for them. “They get a nice penny for it, but that is little compared to their other contracts. They do it purely out of love.”
Mol’s ankle fracture is another heavy blow. Not only is his winter over, his preparation for the road season is also under pressure again. And this in a discipline that in recent years seems to be receiving less and less priority compared to road cycling.
Bruyneel does not rule out that Van Aert will make the decision at some point. “I see him saying: ‘You know what, this is it. I’m going to limit the risks.’” Especially because the road program, with classics and big goals, carries more weight than ever.
Risk versus reality
At the same time, Bruyneel nuances the dangers of cyclo-cross. “Usually, falls in cross country are not too bad,” he emphasizes. “They fall a lot, but at low speed and not on asphalt.” That is precisely why it is unfortunate that this fall had such serious consequences.
