Wout van Aert didn’t hide his sadness at the end of Nathan Van Hooydonck’s career. His Jumbo-Visma teammate was diagnosed with a heart muscle abnormality, which required the implantation of a defibrillator, thus preventing him from racing anymore. “This is very sad news,” Van Aert told the Belgian TV channel Sporza. “However, the good news is that Nathan is still here.”
Van Hooydonck has been a loyal helper to the Jumbo-Visma leader since 2021, both in the spring classics and the Tour de France. “For him, it’s a blow not being able to pursue his passion. I can say I’m going to miss my best teammate.”
“I’m struggling with this,” Van Aert concludes with a trembling voice. “He’s already had so many setbacks; it’s really unfair.”