Wout Van Aert has begun an extended training camp in Girona, Spain.

Van Aert was cleared to begin training after nearly five months of recovery from injuries sustained in a major crash at the Tour de France in July.

After a two-week training camp in Girona, Van Aert said he will undergo physiological tests to assess how well he has recovered and whether he can start racing cyclocross.

He confirmed that he would like to use part of the cyclocross season to prepare for the 2020 road racing campaign, which will first target Omloop Het Nieuwsbald as part of the spring classics.

He hopes to compete in several cyclocross events, starting with the Azencross cyclocross race in Loenhout, Belgium, on December 27.

"Two weeks after that, I will have a physical test, and only when that test gives the GO sign will I be allowed to cross," he told the Belgian press.

"I want to ride the crossings a total of eight times this winter, and in February I will go to Tenerife to train at altitude, aiming for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

Van Aert made his debut at the Tour de France in July as part of the Jumbo-Visma team, winning the team time trial on stage 2. He also won stage 10 and was one of the favorites to win the individual time trial on stage 13.

He crashed during the time trial when he got caught in a fence on a right-hand corner with 1km to go. He was taken to a hospital in Pau where he underwent surgery to repair skin, capsular, and muscle tears in his upper thigh and buttocks.

He was then transferred to a hospital near his home in Herental, where he underwent a second surgery and spent the first part of his recovery process. Dr. Toon Klaas, who performed the surgery, said it would be two months before he could begin intensive rehabilitation.

Van Aert told the Belgian press last week that he hopes to compete in the Azencross cyclocross race in Loenhout. He hopes to use the series of cyclocross races to help him build form for the 2020 road racing season in Jumbo-Visma.

"If my recovery continues to progress, I will make a comeback at the Loanhout on December 27. My rehab has progressed pretty quickly over the past month, and now I can train and increase my load,"