Relief for Van Aert as defective surgery is corrected in Belgium
Wout van Aert is happy to be home in Belgium and at long last out of hospital, following his crash at the Tour de France. He is especially happy to have had surgery by Belgian doctors, as the treatment he had in France "left a lot to be desired".
The 24-year-old crashed in the individual time trial on stage 13 of the Tour de France, suffering a deep gash on his thigh on impact with a roadside barrier.
Van Aert, who rides for Jumbo Visma, underwent treatment immediately in hospital in Pau, which apparently was not properly carried out.
"In the beginning I was not afraid," Van Aert told Belgian broadcaster Sporza, "but when Toon Claes [surgeon] said that I had not had the right surgery in France, I was scared."
On Thursday, he visited the 'To Walk Again' rehabilitation center in Herentals. Sitting in a wheelchair, he said: "It was not a dramatic crash, but due to the treatment that left a lot to be desired in France, it could have been worse if we had not been quick. I am glad that I fell into the hands of Toon Claes and that he quickly intervened at the right time."
The problems have now been resolved after the appropriate surgery, and Van Aert is confident of a full recovery.
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