Wout van Aert has deserted the Vuelta a España after he crashed on the descent of the Collada Llomena on stage 16 to Lagos de Covadonga.
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider injured his left knee when he crashed with a shade over 50km remaining, having led over the primary two climbs of the stage as a part of the day’s early break.
Van Aert tried to rejoin the race after receiving a alternative bike, however he was unable to pedal and in clear discomfort. He stopped once more after a couple of hundred metres, climbing into the Visma workforce automotive.
Van Aert got here down on a pointy left-hand bend after fellow escapee Felix Engelhardt (Jayco-AlUla) had crashed in entrance of him. Isaac del Toro (UAE Team Emirates) went down behind Van Aert.
The Belgian was main each the factors and king of the mountains classifications at this Vuelta after a string of glowing performances over the primary two weeks that noticed him decide up a hat-trick of stage wins.
It stays to be seen if Van Aert will recuperate in time to line out for the Belgian workforce on the World Championships highway race in Zurich on September 29. He was additionally on account of line out on the European Championships on residence roads in Hasselt.
Van Aert’s authentic plans for the 2024 season had been ruined by a heavy crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen that left him with a damaged collarbone and compelled him out of the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and a deliberate Giro d’Italia debut.
He returned to motion in time to line out on the Tour de France in help of Jonas Vingegaard and he claimed a bronze medal within the time trial on the Paris 2024 Olympics.
More to observe…