Tour of Flanders: positive for Covid-19, the big favorite Wout Van Aert withdraws

Belgian champion Wout van Aert, positive for Covid-19, is definitely forfeited for the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, of which he was the big favorite, his Jumbo team announced on Friday evening.

"The good news is that I only have a slight symptom, just a sore throat and a cold," Van Aert said.

My goal is to recover now.

I want to be fully recovered before thinking about the future again.

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The Belgian explained that he felt "a slight sore throat" on Thursday morning.

“I immediately did two self-tests and they were both positive.

I then did a PCR test, which showed that I was strongly positive,” added van Aert.

🇧🇪 #RVV22

Wout van Aert has to forfeit for the Ronde.

pic.twitter.com/krw9FXi8xU

— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) April 1, 2022

Second in the 2020 Tour of Flanders behind his great rival, the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, Van Aert (27) was the big favorite in the race after his success last week in the E3 Classic, the repetition of the “Ronde”.

The Belgian champion does not know where he contracted the infection.

“Over the past two years, I have worked hard to avoid infection.

But we are always exposed to many risks and we do not always have everything in hand, ”he said.

“He will come back stronger than ever”

After the Dutch team announced that his participation was "unlikely", Van Aert received a multitude of messages.

“It made me very happy to read that everyone cares about me.

I want to thank everyone for their support over the past few days.

I will now be the biggest fan of my teammates on Sunday,” he explained.

"The exams have confirmed that Wout is not in good condition," said his sporting director Arthur Van Dongen.

He now has to take a break and then we will set new goals.

Knowing him, he will come back stronger than ever.

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In his absence, van der Poel will be the main favourite.

Winner last year, the Dane Kasper Asgreen will try to revive his team Deceuninck - Quick Step, in difficulty in these flandriennes.