Van Aert, successfully operated on his ankle: the countdown begins to be ready in time for the road season

Good news amid the setback. Wout van Aert has successfully undergone surgery on his right ankle following the injury sustained this Friday at the Zilvermeercross in Mol and has already begun his recovery process with the goal of being in optimal condition for the start of the road season.

Van Aert, successfully operated on his ankle, begins his recovery

The Belgian rider from Visma Lease a Bike went under the knife this Saturday after medical tests confirmed a small bone fragment and a sprain in the ankle joint, a direct consequence of his fall at the Exact Cross in Mol. According to the team, the procedure went smoothly, and Van Aert can now start the rehabilitation phase.

The injury forced an immediate cancellation of the rest of his cyclocross calendar. Van Aert was scheduled to compete this Sunday in the World Cup in Zonhoven and, a week later, the Belgian Championship, before heading to Spain for a training camp in January with the team. All those plans are now off the table, as well as a possible participation in the cyclocross World Championship in Hulst, which was still uncertain.

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With an eye already on the road, the focus now shifts to his winter preparation. The Belgian's schedule includes, at least provisionally, a training camp at altitude in Tenerife during February, although the team acknowledges that it is still early to confirm whether he will be able to follow that schedule without modifications.

The operation thus marks a turning point in a winter that had taken a turn for the worse just as Van Aert was beginning to show his best form in the mud. Now, with the surgery behind him, the main objective is to recover calmly, avoid setbacks, and arrive in full form for the start of a road season in which he will once again be one of the major references in the peloton.