Wout Van Aert begins 2026 still plagued by bad luck. Today in Mol, the Visma rider demonstrated that he can hold his own against VDP like never before in these early cyclocross races.
However, during the seventh lap, the Belgian fell on an icy corner and, in an attempt to stop his slide, he put his ankle on the ground, forcing it into an unnatural rotation.

Van Aert gave up after just a few pedal strokes due to pain and withdrew from the race. However, bad luck struck him again: tests revealed ankle ligament damage and a hairline fracture , which will require surgery on Saturday.

The Belgian must therefore say goodbye to the rest of the cyclocross season , including the World Championships in Belgium. He will likely also have to completely change his road training, given the recovery time following the operation, which could extend into the first weeks of February.

Photo: @vismaleaseabike