Wout van Aert's racing comeback confirmed after elbow injury

The Belgian has not competed since abandoning the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in early June because of an inflamed elbow. The injury ultimately forced him to miss the Tour de France for the first time since making his debut in the race in 2019.

Van Aert has since spent several weeks training at altitude in the Italian Dolomites as he works towards his return to competition. 

Visma | Lease a Bike confirmed on Monday morning that Van Aert will return to action at the Tour of Denmark, which takes place from July 29 to August 2.

The Danish stage race will serve as the next step in his preparation for the Vuelta a España, starting in Monaco on August 22.

The Dutch team's squad for the Tour of Denmark also includes the returning Christophe Laporte, who, just like Van Aert, was forced out of the Tour through injury. Ashlin Barry, Niklas Behrens, Jonas Høydahl, Menno Huising, and Pietro Mattio round out the seven-man line-up.

Wout van Aert’s most recent appearance at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes offered mixed signals about his condition. After crashing shortly before the race, he struggled during the team time trial, although Visma | Lease a Bike still managed to win the stage. 

As the week progressed, however, Van Aert showed clear signs of improvement and underlined his returning form by winning stage five from a reduced bunch sprint.

His recovery ultimately came too late for him to start the Tour de France, making the Tour of Denmark the next important step in his preparations for the second half of the season. It will not be unfamiliar territory for the Belgian. In 2018, while riding for Vérandas Willems Crelan, he won the second stage before securing the overall classification.

This year’s race will give Van Aert his first opportunity to properly assess his condition in competition ahead of the Vuelta a España, where he is expected to pursue stage victories. The three week Grand Tour will also play a key role in his build-up to the World Championships in Montréal later in the year.

Van Aert last raced the Vuelta in 2024, when he won three stages and established a commanding lead in the points classification. His campaign ended abruptly after a heavy crash caused a serious knee injury.