Drama in the Vuelta: Wout van Aert has to give up after heavy fall on descent

Drama in the Vuelta a España: Wout van Aert has to abandon after a serious crash on the descent.

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On the penultimate climb, Van Aert had still taken the points and done well in the battle for the mountain classification, but after Felix Engelhardt missed a bend in the treacherous descent, he crashed. Since Van Aert and Isaac del Toro were on his wheel, they also misjudged the bend.

Van Aert hit a rock face hard. He got back on his bike, but soon realized that it wasn’t going to work. His right knee/leg in particular seemed badly damaged. He then went to sit in the back of the follow-up car, where realization dawned and he went away pale as a sheet.

Deja-vu. 😭😭😭

— Thijs Zonneveld (@thijszonneveld) September 3, 2024

It is a continuation of Van Aert’s unlucky year, who had a good chance of winning both the points and the mountain classification in the Vuelta. Earlier in the stage, Van Aert had also fallen, but then without serious consequences. He cycled on and made it to the leading group.

Sad

“A deja-vu”, writes Thijs Zonneveld, who of course recalls the previous heavy fall this year in Dwars door Vlaanderen. Well-known Twitter user Mihai Simion writes: “He tried, but could no longer pedal with one leg. He seemed to be back at his highest level, and then this happens… Very sad.”

Terrible. 💔 The Green Jersey, Wout van Aert is forced to abandon La Vuelta after a crash on the descent of Collada Llomena. He tried to continue but he couldn’t push the pedal with one leg. When he seemed to finally be back to his best, this happens…so sad.#LaVuelta24 pic.twitter.com/m4By1Z7nqw

— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) September 3, 2024

Engelhardt and Del Toro were able to continue their way. In addition to Van Aert, Rémy Rochas (Groupama-FDJ), Tom Paquot (Intermarché-Wanty) and Callum Scotson (Team Jayco-AlUla) also had to abandon earlier today.