Wout van Aert: Everyone has difficult times

From R Team Jumbo rider Belgiums Wout van Aert wearing the best sprinters green jersey Team Jumbo rider Slovenias Primoz Roglic wearing the overall leaders yellow jersey Team Jumbo rider Netherlands Tom Dumoulin and Team Jumbo rider US Sepp Kuss ride during the third stage of the 72nd edition of the Criterium du Dauphine cycling race 157 km between Corenc and SaintMartindeBelleville on August 14 2020 Photo by AnneChristine POUJOULAT AFP Photo by ANNECHRISTINE POUJOULATAFP via Getty Images
Tom Dumoulin with Wout van Aert during the Tour de France (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

The news that Tom Dumoulin has decided to take a leave of absence from the cycling world came as a shock to many but not to his teammates, who have seen the Dutchman struggle since joining Jumbo-Visma in 2020. Wout van Aert says that he hopes his teammate can come back stronger.

"For me this news was less of a surprise than for the outside world," Van Aert told Sporza after coming second at the Flandriencross in Hamme on Saturday. "I think Tom has had a very difficult year. Before that he was away for a long time with injuries and he also had a difficult time mentally.

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