Sawt Falasteen - Wout Van Aert returns home with 'severe knee pain' after Vuelta crash

Van Aert, winner of three stages in the race and leading both the mountain and points classification, was forced to pull out on Tuesday after a heavy fall in the 16th stage.

His team reported: "Wout van Aert has not suffered any fractures from his crash in La Vuelta.

"The three-time stage winner had to withdraw due to severe knee pain caused by a deep wound. That wound requires intensive care. Wout will travel back to Belgium to continue his recovery."

The 29-year-old rider has endured a tough 2024, suffering multiple fractures after a bone-crunching high speed fall in March in the Tour of Flanders which forced him to miss the remaining Spring one-day classics.

But he returned in good form and picked up an Olympic time-trial bronze medal in Paris in July.

Tuesday's latest tumble has thrown into doubt his participation in the road world championships in Zurich at the end of the month.

F.Qawasmeh--SF-PST