Van Aert returns to competition on Wednesday and aims for the 2026 Vuelta

Wout van Aert now has a date for his return to competition. The Visma Lease a Bike rider will wear a number again at the Tour of Denmark, which starts next July 29, after almost two months without racing due to an elbow injury that prevented him from competing in the Tour de France.

Wout van Aert will reappear at the Tour of Denmark and aims for La Vuelta

The Belgian has not competed since the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where he arrived affected by a previous fall. Despite improving over the days and winning the fifth stage, an infection in his elbow forced him to abandon the race, spend a night in the hospital, and undergo treatment with antibiotics. That prevented him from training normally and completing the altitude training camp planned before the Tour, causing his first absence in the Grande Boucle since his debut in 2019.

After several weeks training in the Italian Dolomites, Van Aert has ruled out the usual criteriums after the Tour and will use the Danish round as his first test ahead of the Vuelta a España, which will start on August 22 in Monaco.

Moreover, the Tour of Denmark is a race he knows well. In 2018, with Verandas Willems-Crelan, he won a stage and the general classification. The route of this edition, with several semi-classic profile days, also suits his characteristics and will allow him to assess his condition before facing a second half of the season that will have major objectives like the Vuelta and the World Championship in Montreal.

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The Belgian will also return to the Spanish race two years after his last participation, in 2024, when he achieved three stage victories and was leading the points classification before abandoning after a serious fall.