Wout van Aert's build-up for the Tour de France has taken another hit after it was confirmed by his team earlier this week that the Belgian had not yet started his team's planned altitude camp because of the lingering effects of an injury.
Van Aert was due to travel to training camp at Tignes in the Alps on Monday, but ongoing elbow pain caused by a training crash on his time trial bike has pushed back his attendance.
While Van Aert was able to take part in the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and even won a bunch sprint stage in commanding fashion on Thursday, the pain continued to worsen. Apparently, the friction between his TT handlebars and his elbow during the team time trial, which Visma-Lease a Bike won, but where Van Aert was dropped after six kilometres, further irritated the wound.
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Visma-Lease a Bike remained tight-lipped about the state of the Belgian's health, but they did confirm that he was not present at Tignes training camp, at least for the moment.
"We already knew that he didn't have much margin," sports director Maarten Wynants said, according to Nieuwsblad. "He was already 'below baseline', and this certainly isn't going to help."
Asked if time is running out for Van Aert, given the Tour starts in just over two weeks, and with another, Wynants answered, "You could certainly say that, yes."
Van Aert does remain on the provisional Tour de France team, though, and according to HLN, Per Strand Hagenes, a key player in Van Aert's stage win last week in the Tour Auvergne, will also be present.
Subject to final confirmation, HLN claims the current Visma-Lease a Bike line-up for the Tour de France comprises Jonas Vingegaard, Matteo Jorgenson, Eduardo Affini, Victor Campenaerts, Bruno Armirail, Per Strand Hagenes, Wout van Aert and Sepp Kuss.
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