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Wout van Aert forced out of Tour of Flanders by COVID-19

Four tests all confirm positive diagnosis of Belgian pre-race favourite

Photo by: Sirotti
April 1, 2022
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After an intense day of rumours, Wout van Aert confirmed he will miss this weekend’s Tour of Flanders. The Belgian, heavily favoured to win this year’s event, has contracted COVID-19

Van Aert made the announcement himself, in a video shared on his Jumbo-Visma team’s Twitter. Speaking from an empty white room, the Belgian star shared that, after waking up with a sore throat on Thursday, two rapid tests confirmed he’d contracted COVID-19. Two more PCR tests confirmed that diagnosis.

Van Aert shared that he’s experiencing only mild symptoms of a sore throat and mild cold at this point.

Rumors regarding his participation started when the Belgian, a pre-race favourite, did not take part in Jumbo-Visma’s route preview ride.

Jumbo-Visma isn’t the only team missing riders this weekend. The entire Israel-Premier Tech team is being forced to sit out the Tour of Flanders with illness.