Tour de France 2026: Van Aert Grabs Gravel Ride After Injury, Quinn Battles for GC

Belgian rider Wout van Aert missed the 2026 Tour de France after a serious elbow wound infection forced his exclusion from the Visma‑Lease a Bike line‑up. While his teammates competed in the fastest stage ever, van Aert logged a 104 km gravel circuit in the Italian Alps, climbing 3,400 m and descending via the Umbrail pass on the Swiss side. He shared the ride on Strava and is preparing for a return at the Vuelta a España and the upcoming world championships.

American cyclist Sean Quinn, the 2024 US national champion, overcame two knee surgeries and lingering knee issues to contend in the Tour. After a strong breakaway on stage four, he rose to second overall before settling 16th, 28 seconds behind yellow‑jersey holder Torstein Træen. Quinn emphasised personal motivation and resilience as he aims to stay competitive in the mountainous stages of the race.