Ye ol' Belgian cyclin' landlubber be leavin' the Tour de France to be with his fair lass afore the birthin' of their wee one.
2023-07-20
Arrr, mateys! The brave Belgian buccaneer, Wout van Aert, set sail from the Tour de France, granted leave by his crew, to scurry home and stand by his fair maiden, Sarah, as they await the arrival of their second offspring.
Belgian allrounder Wout van Aert, a key teammate of Tour de France leader Jonas Vingegaard, has decided to leave the race in order to be with his pregnant wife Sarah as they await the arrival of their second child. Van Aert, known for his versatility and ability to win on all types of terrain, has been providing crucial support to Vingegaard throughout the Tour. However, with Vingegaard holding a significant lead in the general classification heading into the final mountain stage, Van Aert's presence was deemed less essential.In a video released by his Jumbo-Visma team, Van Aert expressed his understanding of the situation, stating, "As everyone knows, Sarah is pregnant, and things are starting to get a bit tight at home. In consultation with the team, we have decided that my place is now at home." Despite the bittersweet feeling of leaving the race, Van Aert emphasized that it was not a difficult decision.
Vingegaard, the defending champion, has extended his lead over Tadej Pogacar in the French Alps stage, putting him in a comfortable position to secure his second Tour title. Van Aert, who has a total of nine stage wins in his career, has not been able to secure a victory this month. Reflecting on his performance, he said, "I often had the legs to win a stage, but it did not happen. But I will always remember this Tour as the one where I called home every day."
With Van Aert's departure, Vingegaard and the Jumbo-Visma team are now focused on maintaining their lead and securing the overall victory in the Tour de France. As for Van Aert, he eagerly awaits the birth of his child and will cherish the memories from this unique Tour.