Wout van Aert opts out of Tour de France 2023 to be present for the birth of his child

Wout van Aert Withdraws from Tour de France to be with Expecting Wife

Jumbo-Visma’s cycling sensation, Wout van Aert, has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the prestigious Tour de France in order to be by his wife’s side as they eagerly await the arrival of their baby. The 28-year-old Belgian, who displayed impressive performances throughout the race, clinching second place in two stages, is known for his incredible sprint finishes and selfless team support.

In particular, Van Aert played a crucial role in supporting Jonas Vingegaard’s pursuit of a consecutive Tour victory. With an astonishing lead of over seven minutes, Vingegaard is on track to secure another historic win. However, after careful consideration with his team, Van Aert realized that his place was now at home.

“I have always believed that when my wife needed me, I would prioritize being there for her,” expressed Van Aert. “That time has finally come.”

This decision comes on the heels of Van Aert narrowly missing out on claiming victory during stage two. Despite being favored to win, he was edged out by Victor Lafay’s perfectly timed attack just 900 meters before the finish line. Additionally, stage fifteen witnessed an unfortunate incident caused by a spectator taking a selfie which resulted in a massive crash involving twenty riders – Van Aert secured second place yet again amidst this chaos.

The Tour de France will resume with Stage 18 from Moutiers to Bourg-en-Bresse on Thursday before its climactic conclusion on Sunday.