{"id":123210,"date":"2026-06-18T07:17:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T07:17:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/18\/van-aert-nearly-got-sepsis-in-tour-de-france-crisis\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T07:17:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T07:17:14","slug":"van-aert-nearly-got-sepsis-in-tour-de-france-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/18\/van-aert-nearly-got-sepsis-in-tour-de-france-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Van Aert Nearly Got Sepsis in Tour de France Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"justify-start\">\n<nav class=\"align-left col-span-full mb-base\" data-pom-e2e-test-id=\"breadcrumbs\"\/>\n<p>Stunning new details reveal the severity of the infection and the emergency procedures that sidelined Van Aert from the Tour de France.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"border-border-light border-t py-base-tight\">\n<div class=\"flex h-4 justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-x-base-tight\">\n<div class=\"\"><button class=\"inline-flex shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full hover:cursor-pointer bg-bg-surface hover:bg-bg-light focus:bg-bg-dark text-primary border border-solid border-border-light aria-pressed:bg-brand-primary aria-pressed:text-text-surface py-very-tight px-base-tight gap-tight font-semibold font-utility-2 opacity-50\" aria-label=\"Loading audio\" aria-pressed=\"false\" id=\"article-listen-button\" disabled=\"\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" viewbox=\"0 0 18 18\" fill=\"none\" class=\"\"><title>Listen to this article<\/title><path d=\"M12.5265 16.2C12.2326 16.2 12.0122 16.1265 11.7184 16.053C11.2775 15.9061 10.9102 15.6122 10.6898 15.2449C10.4694 14.8775 10.3959 14.4367 10.5428 13.9959L11.5714 10.3959C11.6449 10.1755 11.7184 9.95509 11.8653 9.80815C12.0122 9.66121 12.1592 9.51427 12.3796 9.36733C12.6 9.29386 12.8204 9.2204 13.0408 9.14693C13.2612 9.14693 13.4816 9.14693 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10.249H4.37142C3.9306 10.3959 3.63672 10.6898 3.41631 11.0571C3.26938 11.351 3.19591 11.7184 3.26938 12.0857C3.34285 12.3061 3.34284 12.5265 3.41631 12.6735L3.71019 13.849ZM13.2612 10.3224C13.1877 10.3224 13.1877 10.3224 13.2612 10.3224C13.1143 10.3224 13.0408 10.3224 12.9673 10.3959C12.8939 10.4694 12.8204 10.4694 12.8204 10.4694C12.7469 10.5428 12.7469 10.6163 12.7469 10.6898L11.7184 14.2898C11.6449 14.4367 11.7184 14.5837 11.7918 14.7306C11.8653 14.8775 12.0122 14.951 12.0857 15.0245C12.3796 15.0979 12.5265 15.0979 12.7469 15.0979C12.9673 15.0979 13.1877 15.0245 13.3347 14.8775C13.5551 14.8041 13.702 14.6571 13.849 14.4367C13.9959 14.2898 14.0694 14.0694 14.1428 13.849L14.5102 12.6735C14.5837 12.5265 14.5837 12.3061 14.6571 12.1592C14.7306 11.7918 14.6571 11.4245 14.5102 11.1306C14.2898 10.7633 13.9959 10.4694 13.5551 10.3224H13.4816C13.3347 10.3224 13.2612 10.3224 13.2612 10.3224Z\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"hidden sm:inline\">Listen<\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/p>\n<p class=\"fp-leadCaption py-tight text-left font-utility text-utility3-size leading-utility3-line-height text-secondary\"> (Photo: Tim de Waele\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-body\">\n<p>Updated June 18, 2026 04:04AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_self\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/tag\/wout-van-aert\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Wout van Aert<\/a> is out of the <a target=\"_self\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/tag\/tour-de-france\" rel=\"noopener\">Tour de France<\/a> with an infected elbow, but it could have been a lot worse for the Belgian superstar.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking Wednesday to <em><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/sporza.be\/nl\/2026\/06\/17\/-de-situatie-was-bijzonder-ernstig-wout-van-aert-werd-opgenomen-in-ziekenhuis-om-bloedvergiftiging-te-voorkomen~1781707051983\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Sporza<\/a><\/em>, Visma\u2019s head of performance Mathieu Heijboer revealed Van Aert only narrowly dodged sepsis when a wound in his elbow blew up with an infection that ultimately <a target=\"_self\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tour-de-france\/wout-van-aert-outtour-de-france\/\" rel=\"noopener\">forced him out<\/a> of both the Dauphin\u00e9 and the Tour de France.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWout\u2019s elbow was already swollen when he abandoned the Tour Auvergne-Rh\u00f4nes-Alpes on Friday. There were already signs of inflammation,\u201d Heijboer told <em>Sporza<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWout went home and was examined at the hospital and put on a course of antibiotics. But instead of the inflammation getting better, it only got worse,\u201d Heijboer continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere was an abscess on his elbow \u2013 it was completely red. Wout had a fever and could no longer move that elbow.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Heijboer revealed Van Aert received multiple treatments to clean his elbow at the hospital in Herentals, Belgium.<\/p>\n<p>Medics feared sepsis.<\/p>\n<p>This is an extreme condition provoked by the immune system overreacting to an extreme infection. It can lead to total-body inflammation and organ failure.<\/p>\n<p>By Monday, Van Aert was on the brink. His elbow was treated <em>again<\/em> and he spent the night in the ward.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe wound was surgically cleaned during a check-up on Monday,\u201d Heijboer said. \u201cThat intervention was truly necessary. Otherwise, there was the possibility of sepsis. The situation was extremely serious.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Van Aert said in a team statement on Wednesday that missing the Tour de France was a bitter blow.<\/p>\n<p>After beating Tadej Poga\u010dar at Paris-Roubaix and winning a stage in the Rh\u00f4nes-Alpes, he was poised to play a crucial role for Jonas Vingegaard.<\/p>\n<p>Van Aert could have been contending with much more than disappointment if he hadn\u2019t been treated, fast.<\/p>\n<p>For once, cycling\u2019s most unlucky rider saw a tiny bit of a break.<\/p>\n<h2>An innocuous crash by Van Aert spiraled into crisis for Visma<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_989122\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img alt=\"Van Aert\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-989122\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2280289814.jpg?width=1080&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2280289814.jpg?width=2048&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2280289814.jpg?width=2048&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">Van Aert showed up to the Rhone-Alpes with a bandaged elbow after what he dismissed as a stupid training crash.<\/span> (Photo: Dario Belingheri\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>According to Heijboer, it\u2019s unknown how Van Aert\u2019s elbow became infected.<\/p>\n<p>When the 31-year-old showed up to the Auvergne-Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes with a bandaged elbow, the Belgian laughed it off. He had crashed while training, and the injury was under control.<\/p>\n<p>However, it didn\u2019t stay that way. <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nieuwsblad.be\/podcast-zebra\/pech-blijft-wout-van-aert-achtervolgen-voor-de-start-van-grote-rondes\/157332958.html\" rel=\"noopener\">Belgian pundits theorized<\/a> Van Aert\u2019s elbow was dirtied as he hunched into the skis of his time trial bike on Tuesday\u2019s stage 3 TTT.<\/p>\n<p>Two days and a stage-win later, the wound <a target=\"_self\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/van-aert-infected-seixas-smashed-tour-de-france\/\" rel=\"noopener\">ballooned in size and was causing significant pain.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe bacterial infection developed during the race. There was no cause for concern prior to that,\u201d Heijboer said in a separate interview with <em><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-brand-primary underline hover:text-brand-primary\/85 break-words overflow-wrap-anywhere underline-offset-[3px]\" data-afl-p=\"0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hln.be\/wielrennen\/dankzij-optreden-van-de-dokters-is-bloedvergiftiging-voorkomen-coach-wout-van-aert-legt-uit-hoe-hij-aan-erger-ontsnapt-is~aa11ed9a\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Het Laatste Nieuws<\/a><\/em>. \u201cHow did the bacteria get in? That\u2019s a mystery.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt one point, it was a very serious situation. He wouldn\u2019t have been admitted to hospital otherwise.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>\u2018Vingegaard is extremely dissapointed\u2019<\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_989577\" class=\"pom-image-wrap photo-alignnone\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-989577\" style=\"color:transparent\" srcset=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2227395856-2.jpg?width=1080&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 1x, https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2227395856-2.jpg?width=2048&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover 2x\" src=\"https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/GettyImages-2227395856-2.jpg?width=2048&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=75&amp;fit=cover\"\/><figcaption class=\"pom-caption\"><span class=\"article__caption\">Van Aert will miss the Tour de France for the first time since 2019. News he\u2019s out is a heavy blow for Vingegaard and Visma. (Jean Catuffe\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Van Aert was discharged from hospital on Tuesday but is checking in daily for intravenous antibiotics \u2013 the most extreme treatment for infection possible.<\/p>\n<p>Heijboer told <em>HLN<\/em> the drugs kicked in fast and that Van Aert saw rapid improvement. However, there was no question that Visma\u2019s prime superdomestique would start the Tour de France on July 4.<\/p>\n<p>The team broke the bad news on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur first concern is Wout\u2019s health. We didn\u2019t want to create a situation of high pressure where he <em>had<\/em> to make it to the Tour,\u201d Heijboer told <em>HLN<\/em>. \u201cIt was a difficult decision, but at the same time an easy one.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere wasn\u2019t much doubt about whether or not to start \u2013 the situation was very clear. But the disappointment remains enormous.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Visma-Lease a Bike will confirm next week who will fill in for Van Aert at the Tour de France.<\/p>\n<p>Sepp Kuss, Matteo Jorgenson, Victor Campenaerts, Bruno Armirail, Edoardo Affini, and Per Strand Hagenes have long been expected to be part of the Visma\u2019s Tour 8.<\/p>\n<p>Ben Tulett, Wilco Keldermen, and Bart Lemmen are reported to be among those in line to replace Van Aert.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re all top-caliber riders.<\/p>\n<p>But in reality, there\u2019s no replacing Van Aert.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJonas [Vingegaard] is also extremely disappointed, because he knows the role Wout played for him in the past in winning the yellow jersey,\u201d Heijboer said Wednesday. \u201cHe is an irreplaceable link.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Van Aert is now thinking forward to the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a and September\u2019s Montr\u00e9al road world championships.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><span hidden=\"\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/van-aert-sepsis-tour-de-france\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stunning new details reveal the severity of the infection and the emergency procedures that sidelined Van Aert from the Tour de France. Listen to this articleListen (Photo: Tim de Waele\/Getty Images) Updated June 18, 2026 04:04AM Wout van Aert is out of the Tour de France with an infected elbow, but it could have been [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":123211,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123210"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123210"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123210\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}