Wout inspireert me: hij strijdt mee voor de allergrootste zeges en verricht zijn werk als knecht
, Toon Aerts stated in an interview with De Zondag, as reported by Wielernieuws.
The 33-year-old Belgian cyclocross champion is currently sidelined while recovering from a serious knee injury, but he is already setting his sights on further professional development as a road racer.
Aerts sustained a double fracture in his kneecap and a broken wrist during a crash in the Tour of Denmark in early August. His recovery process has been complicated by an infection in his operated knee, a situation that was severe enough for the rider to fear potential amputation at one point.
Due to these injuries, the 2025 European champion will be unable to defend his title this weekend in Zeddam, Netherlands. A return to cyclocross is not currently on the immediate horizon for Aerts, who noted that he will be watching the races from home, a stark contrast to last year when he defeated Thibau Nys in the sprint at the European Championships.
Despite the setback, Aerts remains optimistic about his career trajectory. Since a collaboration was established in 2025 between Deschacht-Hens-FSP and Lotto, Aerts has gained access to a broader range of road racing opportunities. During the Giro d’Italia, he achieved several high placements, including a second-place finish.
Looking forward, he intends to further refine his skills as a road cyclist. I want to develop myself even more as a road racer in the future
, he said.
The classics already went well this year and there is still a lot possible.
While he plans to continue competing in cyclocross, Aerts views the ability to balance personal ambitions with team duties—exemplified by Wout van Aert—as the ultimate standard for his career.
Although his recent success has drawn attention, Aerts noted that he has attempted to showcase his road racing abilities every summer throughout his career. He previously secured several top placements in the Tour of Belgium while riding for the Telenet Fidea cyclocross team, though that squad lacked the structure to participate in major classics or Grand Tours at the time.
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