Wout van Aert, what’s going on? First the surprising admission, then the controversial decision

Less than 24 hours after his victory in the fifth stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Wout van Aert took fans and insiders by surprise by withdrawing from the race with three stages remaining. This comes after he publicly admitted to issues that go beyond those related to his physical condition, just three weeks before one of the main events of the cycling season, the Tour de France.

“Wout van Aert did not start the sixth stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes scheduled for today,” reads a statement on Team Visma-Lease a Bike’s official channels. “The rider is still experiencing significant discomfort in his elbow, a result of the crash he suffered last week. Wout will return to Belgium for further medical examinations. We all wish him a speedy recovery.”

Van Aert had fallen during training, injuring his elbow, but had nevertheless decided not to skip the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the race known until last year as the Critérium du Dauphiné. His victory in the fifth stage had put a smile on his fans’ faces, but even after the win, his words were surprising: “As always, I work to be the best in the race and to win, but the feeling of victory is very different from when I won Roubaix. I’m happy with the win here, but it’s a victory that stirs up fewer emotions.”

His withdrawal from the former Dauphiné, combined with his post-victory comments, now raises questions about Van Aert’s physical and mental state. The Tour de France is approaching, and his decision to withdraw appears to be a sign of caution rather than cause for alarm, but a debate has already begun among fans and insiders about how much what is happening these days might affect his participation in the Grande Boucle.