Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert quits the 2023 Tour de France mid-race to support his pregnant wife in a touching tribute to his family.
What happened to Wout Van Aert?
Wout van Aert, the talented Belgian cyclist from the Jumbo–Visma team, left the 2023 Tour de France during the final week to be with his wife Sarah, who was due to give birth to their second child. This decision came despite his ambition to win stages, especially after his outstanding performance in the previous year, where he won the green jersey by winning three stages and dominating the points classification.
Unfortunately, in the 2023 edition of the Tour, Van Aert failed to secure a stage win by the time he got going. He came close with two second places on Stage 2 and Stage 15, and also scored podium positions on Stage 8 and Stage 16, finishing third both times. Despite not achieving the stage wins he wanted, he expressed that his experience on the bike and his friendship with his teammates were positive and fulfilling.
Van Aert’s departure from the Tour prompted the imminent arrival of a second child. In a video released by his Jumbo-Visma team, he explained that his wife’s pregnancy had reached a critical stage and that they had a consultation with a doctor who confirmed that labor was imminent. Given the circumstances, Van Aert and the team decided that his place now was at home to support his wife during this important time.
Although his decision meant he would miss the Tour’s famous final stage on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, Van Aert had no regrets about putting his family ahead of the race. He pointed out that going home with his wife was not a dilemma, but an easy decision, because they had planned for that possibility in advance.
Van Aert’s departure came with Jumbo–Vism leading the team standings, showing a strong team performance throughout the race. After leaving the Tour, he was fourth in the green jersey standings, with Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck holding a significant lead.
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Why is Wout van Aert out of the Tour de France?
Wout van Aert is out of the Tour de France as he decided to leave the race during the final week. The reason for his departure was to spend time with his pregnant wife Sarah, who was about to give birth to her second child. This decision was made by Van Aert and his team, Jumbo–Visma, in consultation with his doctor, who confirmed that the birth was inevitable.
Despite his aspirations to win stages at the 2023 Tour de France, Van Aert had not secured a stage win by the time of his departure. His best finishes were two second places on Stage 2 and Stage 15, and he also reached the podium on two occasions, finishing third on Stage 8 and Stage 16.
Although he was hoping for more success on the racetrack, Van Aert expressed that he felt positive about his overall experience during the Tour. He pointed out that the support and companionship with his teammates was excellent, but his priority is to be with his wife at this important moment.
Van Aert’s decision to leave the Tour and return home was not taken lightly, but he planned for the possibility that he would have to be with his wife during the race. He admitted that the decision was simple, because the well-being of his family was his top priority.
As he left the Tour, Jumbo–Visma was leading the team standings, showing his strong performance throughout the race. Sam Van Aert took fourth place in the green jersey standings, and Jasper Philipsen from Alpecin-Deceuninck had a significant lead.
Does Wout Van Aert speak Dutch?
Yes, Wout van Aert speaks Dutch. As a Belgian cyclist, Dutch is one of the official languages in Belgium, along with French and German. Being originally from Belgium, Wout is fluent in Dutch, which is commonly spoken in the northern region of the country known as Flanders.
As mentioned in previous information, Wout van Aert has left the 2023 Tour de France to be with his pregnant wife. The information was released in a video released by his team, Jumbo-Visma, where he communicated in Dutch about his decision to prioritize his family and be present for the imminent birth of their second child.
Wout’s ability to speak Dutch is not surprising given his Belgian heritage and upbringing in Flanders, where Dutch is the predominant language. In addition to Dutch, he also probably speaks French and English well, as these languages are commonly used in international cycling events and communication with teammates and competitors from different countries.
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18th stage of Tour De France 2023
In the 18th stage of the Tour de France 2023, Kasper Asgreen won a remarkable victory by winning his first stage of the Tour de France. The stage was flat, covering a distance of 184.9 kilometers (114.7 mi), starting in Moûtiers and finishing in Bourg-en-Bresse.
Asgreen, who rides for the Soudal Quick-Step team, was part of a breakaway group of four riders. Despite the efforts of the sprint teams to catch them, Asgreen and his companions managed to hold on and slip away from the peloton during the final stage in Bourg-en-Bresse.
The Danish cyclist showed off his sprinting abilities and overtook fellow breakaways Pascal Eenkhorn and Jonas Abrahamsen to take the stage win. This victory marked a significant achievement for Asgreen in one of the most prestigious cycling races in the world.
Meanwhile, Jonas Vingegaard, also from Denmark, continued to maintain a comfortable overall lead in the general classification. With just three stages remaining, he had a significant lead over his rivals, including two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar, who trailed him by seven minutes and 35 seconds. British cyclist Adam Yates took third place overall.
The stage was initially expected to be a chance for the sprinters to shine, as it followed five consecutive hilly stages, including the grueling Queen to Courchevel stage. However, the breakaway’s resilience and the main group’s misjudgment saw the breakaway win, with the main group coming in a little too late to catch up.
As the race progressed, only three cyclists broke away at first, with Asgreen, Victor Campenaerts and Jonas Abrahamsen forming the initial breakaway group. They were later joined by Pascal Eenkhoorn to form a runaway final four. Despite the peloton’s efforts to close the gap, they were unable to catch the leaders in time for the finish.
Looking ahead to Stage 19, the main group is expected to travel over the Jura mountains, covering the 172.8-kilometre (107.4-mile) route from Moirans-en-Montagne to Poligny. This stage presents an opportunity for the sprint teams to compete and potentially redeem themselves after a thrilling victory in the 18th stage.
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Categories: General
Source: HIS Education