Spin Cycle: Aert of Glass

The venerable French sports daily, *L'Équipe*, has prominently featured Wout van Aert on its front page, specifically highlighting his recent injury setbacks. This comes after the Visma-Lease a Bike rider’s crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen in March, which derailed his spring classics campaign, followed by a subsequent training incident that forced his withdrawal from the Giro d'Italia. The headline, "Aert of Glass," from *Escape Collective*, captures the sentiment surrounding his recent misfortunes.

This front-page treatment by *L'Équipe* underscores the significant impact Van Aert’s absence has had on the professional peloton, particularly during a crucial period for the Classics and Grand Tours. As one of cycling's most versatile and popular figures, his repeated bad luck has deprived fans of anticipated showdowns, most notably against Mathieu van der Poel. His previous dominance in cyclocross and consistent top-tier road performances make his current string of injuries a major talking point, raising questions about his return to peak form.

Indeed, when a rider of Van Aert’s calibre becomes more known for his unfortunate tumbles than his triumphs, the sport feels his absence profoundly. One can only hope his next headline is for a win, not a ward visit.