Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) travelled from his home near Antwerp to Lille for the Tour de France's Big Start, apparently having recovered from the gastrointestinal problem that forced him to miss last Sunday's Belgian National Championships.

Although his presence at the Tour was never in question, his recent indisposition could have compromised his final preparation and consequently his personal objectives in the first week of the race, including the eagerly awaited sprint of the first stage in Lille.

The Belgian runner returned to training on Tuesday, completing what he jokingly called his 'Comeback number I don't know what anymore' on Strava, referring to the numerous times he has had to recover from injuries and illnesses in recent years.

As promptly reported by the Flemish media, Van Aert covered 105 km at an average speed of 36.5 km/h on a circuit north of Herentals, including a stretch across the border into the Netherlands.

It's not the first time this year that Van Aert has had to deal with health problems: he had already been struck by an indisposition during an important pre-Giro d'Italia training camp, struggling in the first week of the Corsa Rosa before winning the stage on the Tuscan dirt road with the finish in Siena.

The current situation is reminiscent of the Giro, but the Belgian champion has shown he can react to adversity. It will be essential for fantasy coaches to monitor his condition in the first few days of the race before deploying him.

Sprint Cycling Photo