Wout Van Aert's carefully laid goals for the Tour de Flanders and Paris-Roubaix came crashing down in Dwars door Hlaanderen, where he broke his collarbone, sternum, and several ribs, but a little over a week later, the Belgian is beginning to feel the effects of his recovery.

"Nine days after the surgery, I'm starting to feel a bit more like myself again," Van Aert said in an Instagram post.

The crash in Dwars door Hlaanderen clearly ruled out two major goals for the 29-year-old this season, and his Vimaris-a-Bike team suddenly had to reset its plans for the Tour de Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. But the loss of a likely rival to winner Mathieu Van der Pol (Alpecin-Desseuninck) in these races does not mean the regrouping is over.

Van Aert, who has competed in the Tour de France five times and has nine stage wins, was scheduled to compete in the Giro d'Italia for the first time this year. In an update after undergoing surgery in Hérentals, the team said his participation in the Giro d'Italia, which starts May 4, is still uncertain and a decision will be made in the coming weeks. I hope to be back on the bike soon, but right now my priority is to fully heal my wounds and fractures," he said. I am grateful for the extra time I get to spend with my loved ones."

After thanking those who cared for him after the accident, VanArt also thanked the blessings he has received since.

"But I can't point out enough how overwhelming the support from everyone has been. I have never received so many messages, gifts, and emails.

"Thank you a thousand times over."

Van Art is just one of many riders who have faced crashes over the past few weeks with injuries that have taken considerable time to recover from and have immediately called into question important goals for the season.

Lidl Trek's Jasper Steiven, Alex Kirsch, and Michele Gazzoli (Astana Kazakstan) also left Dwar door Hlaanderen with broken bones, and the big crash in Itzria Basque added even more riders to cycling's sick list. Van Aert's teammates Jonas Vingegaard, Jay Wein (UAE Team Emirates), Stef Klas (Total Energies), and Remco Evenpol (Soudal-Quick Step) were all taken to the hospital with broken bones and other injuries.

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