"Today my elbow hurt more than on other days": Van Aert won in Dauphiné, but his injury remains a mystery

Wout van Aert's victory in the fifth stage of the 2026 Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes was a significant relief for the Belgian after a week marked by doubts. After acknowledging at the start of the race that he had suffered a fall while training with his time trial bike just six days before the start of the event, the Visma Lease a Bike rider finally managed to raise his arms in Villars-les-Dombes. However, after crossing the finish line, he also admitted that the aftereffects of that accident are still present and that his physical condition is still far from perfect.

Van Aert confirms he is still experiencing discomfort after his fall

The victory comes after a few complicated first days in the French round. On Tuesday, he was one of the first riders to drop out during the team time trial, and his performance had raised many questions about his real form just weeks before the Tour de France.

That is why the triumph in the fifth stage holds special value for the Belgian.

“Yes, of course. Winning is always nice, especially in an important race like this. I am very happy with this stage victory,” declared Van Aert after the finish.

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Even so, the Visma rider made it clear that he does not believe his level has taken a sudden leap.

“My form is probably not very different now, but the last two days were a bit easier and suited my current state better. I think I had a difficult start. Even today was mentally challenging,” he said.

Van Aert arrived at the race with visible bandages on his elbow and right knee, a consequence of the fall he suffered during a training session with the time trial bike just days before the start of the event.

In statements to In de Leiderstrui, he acknowledged that those days leading up were not easy at all.

“It definitely wasn’t ideal. The last days at home were painful, and that also made training difficult. It is what it is, and you always have to adapt,”

“Today my elbow hurt more”

The most striking news came during the post-stage press conference. Although the victory seems to confirm that the sensations are improving, Van Aert acknowledged that the physical discomfort continues and even increased during this day.

“It still hurts sometimes after the fall I had just before this race. But with the team I have around me and after they were chasing the breakaway all day, I had to give it a try,” he said.

He also added a warning regarding the tough mountain stages that are still to come:

“Today it hurt more than other days. We have to keep an eye on it. I hope it goes in the right direction,” he stated.

These statements partly explain why the Belgian has been so inconsistent during this week and maintain some uncertainty about his full recovery.

Van Aert also wanted to highlight the enormous work done by his teammates to neutralize the breakaway and prepare for the sprint.

Bruno Armirail's role was especially important during the final kilometers.

“Bruno Armirail was impressively strong pulling until the last kilometers. And the other guys did an incredible job to bring me to the finish, so I have to thank them,”

The stage was one of the few real opportunities for sprinters in a particularly tough edition of the race, with a lot of mountains and few teams interested in controlling the breaks.

“This is a very tough race, with a lot of elevation, and there aren’t many sprint teams. Every day it’s a mystery whether the peloton can be controlled. But today we did a great job from the start and managed to have a breakaway that we could catch. That’s how I got this opportunity,”

A boost of confidence for the Tour

Despite the doubts raised during the first part of the week, Van Aert assured that he has always had confidence in his speed.

“Honestly, the sprints have been going quite well all year and also during the last weeks of training. In the sprint, I was convinced that I had a good chance,”

When asked if this victory represents a significant boost in morale before the Tour de France, the Belgian was clear and direct: “Yes, I am happy with this, and now I have to keep working,”

After several days of uncertainty, the victory brings a smile back to Van Aert. However, the discomfort in his elbow remains an unknown, and the rider himself has acknowledged that it will be necessary to closely monitor his evolution during the upcoming stages and, above all, on the way to the Tour de France.