Van Aert has some suspicions about why he gets sick more easily than before

Wout van Aert has acknowledged that in recent years he has been getting sick more frequently than in earlier stages of his career. The Belgian cyclist explained this during his participation in the podcast Live Slow Ride Fast, where he admitted that it is a situation that catches his attention and generates frustration, although he does not have a clearly identified cause.

Wout van Aert admits that he now gets sick more easily than before

“Unfortunately, I have been getting sick too often lately. Before, according to my feeling, I never got sick,” Van Aert explained. “I don’t know if it’s because of the kids or if sometimes I also think that since COVID, we all get sick a little faster.”

The Visma-Lease a Bike rider added that, in any case, he has a clear perception of change compared to previous years. “In any case, I feel that in recent years I am much more vulnerable. It’s something that has frustrated me on several occasions.”

Van Aert's statements come after several seasons in which health problems have appeared at important stages of the calendar. Three years ago, an illness already prevented him from properly preparing for the Tour of Flanders. Since then, the situation has repeated itself on different occasions. Last year, he delayed the start of his cyclocross campaign due to illness, his start of the Giro d'Italia was affected for the same reason, and just before the Tour de France, he had to withdraw from the Belgian Road Championship.

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Among the possible causes, Van Aert mentioned his children's school environment, although he made it clear that he does not intend to take measures in this regard. “I just want to be a normal father and give our children the most normal education possible,” he stated. The last thing I want is to keep them out of school to avoid illnesses or something like that. It doesn’t even cross my mind.”

In the same podcast, Van Aert also provided an update on the ankle fracture he suffered four weeks ago in the cyclocross of Mol, which ended his winter season. The Belgian explained that the recovery is going positively, although he still has limitations.

“I can almost walk normally now, and riding a bike is going well. But I still can’t sprint at full speed,” he pointed out. He also recalled the first sensations after returning to training: “In my first outings, I had to take my foot off the pedal because downshifting hurt me a lot.”

As the days went by, the inflammation has been decreasing. “The swelling has gone down a lot, and I can already accelerate a bit after the turns,” Van Aert explained, who confirmed that he has completed a training camp with the team in Spain.

“In Spain, I was able to do a six-hour training session,” he detailed, although he acknowledged that the injury has caused him to lose time. “Of course, I have accumulated some delay. I still feel discomfort, especially in the last degrees of movement of the ankle, and sprinting at a hundred percent is still not possible.”

Despite this, the Belgian insisted that his season start is not in danger. “The people who have accompanied me in this process trust that everything will go well and that in a reasonable time I can fully load again.”

If he meets the deadlines, Van Aert will start his road season at Omloop Het Niewsblad, which this year takes place on February 28.