Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert will miss the 2026 Tour de France [1] because a lingering elbow injury has not healed sufficiently.
Van Aert is one of the most versatile riders in professional cycling, and his absence removes a primary contender for both stage wins and the overall classification. His withdrawal impacts the strategic calculations for his team, Visma | Lease a Bike, as they prepare for the grueling three-week race.
The 31-year-old rider [2] struggled with an elbow infection that prevented him from reaching the physical condition necessary for elite competition. A spokesperson for Visma | Lease a Bike said that top form is not achievable [3].
Prior to the final decision, van Aert spent a night in a Belgian hospital for observation [4]. This medical setback forced him to withdraw from two other events, including the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and the high-stage in Tignes [2].
Van Aert expressed his disappointment regarding the situation. "This is obviously a great disappointment," he said [5].
The cyclist is now shifting his priorities away from the 2026 Tour de France to ensure a full recovery. Van Aert said that his focus now goes to recovery [6].
“"This is obviously a great disappointment,"”
The loss of Wout van Aert significantly alters the competitive landscape of the 2026 Tour de France. As a rider capable of winning in sprints, time trials, and mountain stages, his absence reduces the tactical depth of Visma | Lease a Bike and opens the door for other contenders to dominate the stage wins that van Aert typically targets.
