Wout van Aert will not ride the 2026 Tour de France. The Visma Lease a Bike team confirmed on Tuesday that the Belgian has not recovered in time from the elbow injury he suffered during a crash in training prior to the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and will therefore be one of the most notable absences from the next Grande Boucle.
The news puts an end to several days of uncertainty surrounding Van Aert’s physical condition. Although the rider managed to win a stage of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, he ended up abandoning the race after an infection unexpectedly developed in the elbow wound.
According to the Dutch team, the situation worsened in recent days to the point that this week the rider had to return to the hospital for further wound cleaning and spend a night under medical observation. After evaluating the injury’s progression with the team’s medical staff and performance managers, Visma Lease a Bike has decided to prioritize the rider’s full recovery over accelerating his return to competition.
«Of course, this is a huge disappointment. The Tour de France is one of my main goals every year,» Van Aert explained in a statement released by the team.
«Unfortunately, a crash during training disrupted all the plans, and my elbow injury has worsened and hasn’t healed sufficiently yet. Together with the team, we’ve concluded that it’s not possible to tackle the Tour in peak form. Now, all my focus is on recovery so I can return to my best form later this season,» he added.
The withdrawal is a major setback for Visma Lease a Bike. Van Aert was expected to play a key role both in the pursuit of stage wins and in supporting Jonas Vingegaard in the fight for the overall classification.
Sports director Marc Reef acknowledged that the team considered all possible alternatives before making the final decision. “Wout is one of the most important riders on our team and, obviously, we would have loved to have him at the start of the Tour,” Reef said.
“In recent days we explored all the options, but ultimately his health comes first. With the recovery process he needs, it’s not possible for him to reach his best form in time for the Tour de France. It’s a shame he won’t be there, but we are convinced this is the right decision for his recovery and for the rest of his season.”
Visma Lease a Bike has also confirmed that it will announce on June 23 who will take Van Aert’s place in the final lineup for the 2026 Tour de France.