Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) has completed his first outdoor training session following ankle surgery, riding 33 kilometres around Herentals, Belgium, just nine days after surgery.
The Belgian shared the hour-long ride on Strava with the caption "Gewonnen maandag" – Winning Monday. The caption is a play on "Verloren Maandag" – lost Monday – a Flemish tradition celebrated on the Monday after Epiphany, which falls on January 12, 2026.
With only 35m of elevation and a 32kph average speed, the ride screamed recovery rather than active training. However, it alleviates concerns that the Belgian rider would not be back to racing for the Spring Classics.
Van Aert crashed during snowy, high-speed conditions at the Exact Cross in Mol on January 2. Initial assessments suggested a sprained ankle, but subsequent imaging confirmed a small fracture requiring surgical intervention. The ankle surgery was performed the following day.
"Of course I am very disappointed to have to end my cyclocross season like this," Van Aert said following the surgery. "I was feeling better and better, including today in Mol. I was really looking forward to the race in Zonhoven and the Belgian Championships."
A rapid return to cycling can be possible after some ankle injuries. Unlike running or walking, cycling places minimal weight-bearing stress on the ankle joint, allowing athletes to pedal before they can comfortably stand. Sports physician Tom Teulingkx, consulted by Sporza noted that a small ankle fracture, when stabilised with internal fixation, can permit early mobilisation provided the athlete remains within careful parameters.
The nine-day turnaround follows surgery with internal fixation of the fracture. Prior to the crash, he had contested six cyclocross races this season, including second-place finishes at the X2O Trofee Hofstade and Superprestige Heusden-Zolder.
With his cyclocross campaign now concluded, Van Aert is scheduled to race the cobbled Classics. Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on February 28 remains his planned road season debut, with Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix all on the calendar.
Visma-Lease a Bike has not yet given further details about how the injury might affect his race schedule.
