With three main cyclocross races developing within the subsequent three days, there’s each excellent news and dangerous information for Visma-Lease a Bike and their pair of ‘cross stars.
Wout van Aert is ready to make his season debut on Monday on the Superprestige in Mol, his first aggressive outing since crashing out of the Vuelta a España in September.
However, the Dutch crew will miss world champion Fem van Empel this weekend after she crashed throughout a recon journey this week.
The 22-year-old Van Empel has received six of her 11 races up to now this season and completed on the rostrum in 4 of the opposite 5. She will not be including to her checklist of triumphs on the UCI World Cup rounds in Hulst and Zonhoven on Saturday and Sunday, although.
Visma-Lease a Bike introduced that Van Empel, who fell a number of occasions on the way in which to a seventh-place end in Namur final weekend, harm her knee after crashing throughout a recon journey forward of the 2 World Cup meets.
“Fem van Empel fell throughout a recon journey this week and hit her knee,” the crew introduced. “She’s experiencing discomfort and, sadly, will be unable to begin within the World Cups in Hulst and Zonhoven this weekend.
“Wishing you a speedy restoration, Fem!”
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In extra constructive information for the crew, Van Aert will return to motion on Monday to kick off his restricted six-race cyclocross marketing campaign this winter.
The Belgian will face off in opposition to his everlasting rival Mathieu van der Poel in Mol earlier than taking up the Exact Cross Loenhout (December 27), Superprestige Gullegem (January 4) and World Cup rounds in Dendermonde (January 5), Benidorm (January 19), and Maasmechelen (January 25).
Speaking to Red Bull, Van Aert mentioned that there is “nonetheless a query mark” over how aggressive he might be upon his return to cyclocross.
“I needed to give attention to my rehabilitation for a very long time. Even now I’m nonetheless engaged on getting my proper leg as sturdy as my left leg,” he mentioned, in response to Het Laatste Nieuws.
“That after all means there may be much less time to coach particular cyclocross points. So, it’s also a query mark how aggressive I will likely be. But that I’m actually trying ahead to it, that’s past doubt.”
While he will not be at full energy right away, Van Aert did name racing via the winter “a ritual” and known as the game his “past love”, even when his lowered marketing campaign will likely be raced along with his focus extra on preparation for the 2025 street season and the spring Classics.
“It’s actually a ritual for me to dive into the ‘cross within the winter. It’s my second nature, my past love that I all the time return to,” he mentioned.
“For me, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix stay absolutely the essential targets. When I take into consideration that, I simply need to do every little thing to realize that.”
Fem van Empel fell throughout a recon journey this week and hit her knee. She’s experiencing discomfort and, sadly, will be unable to begin within the World Cups in Hulst and Zonhoven this weekend.Wishing you a speedy restoration, Fem! 🍀 pic.twitter.com/K2vwTT3RqADecember 20, 2024