MOUTIERS, France (AP) — Belgian allrounder Wout van Aert, a key teammate of Tour de France leader Jonas Vingegaard, has left the race to be with his wife Sarah ahead of the birth of their second child.
Van Aert, a versatile rider capable of winning on all grounds, has provided crucial support to Vingegaard since the start of the Tour. But because Vingegaard has opened a huge gap in the general classification with one tough mountain stage left, Van Aert's presence was not deemed as essential.
“As everyone knows, Sarah is pregnant, things are starting to get a bit tight at home,” Van Aert said in a video published by his Jumbo-Visma team ahead of Thursday's Stage 18. “In consultation with the team we have decided that my place is now at home.”
Van Aert added that leaving the race is “a strange feeling, but it's not a dilemma.”
Vingegaard, the defending champion, dropped Tadej Pogacar in the last big stage in the French Alps on Wednesday to increase his overall lead to 7 minutes, 35 seconds. Barring any big crash, he looks set to win his second Tour title on Sunday.
Van Aert has nine career stage wins on the Tour, but none this month.
“I often had the legs to win a stage, but it did not happen,” he said. “But I will always remember this Tour as the one where I called home every day.”
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers said surgery on a torn Achilles tendon "went great."
Hundreds of Milwaukee bar patrons who hoped to score free drinks through its offer to pay their tabs whenever the New York Jets, and former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, lose had to pay up after the Jets got an overtime win despite an injury that took Rodgers out of the game.
Former NFL player Mike Williams passed away at the age of 36.
Aaron Rodgers has a torn left Achilles tendon and the 39-year-old New York Jets quarterback will miss the rest of the season, coach Robert Saleh announced Tuesday.
Fitness in Four: Fitness expert Whitney Berger shows us some low-impact exercises that are good for people with a wide range of fitness and abilities.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers left Monday night's game against the Buffalo Bills with an injury.
Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter, Jr. was arrested and charged with assault on his girlfriend.
Retired Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton is teaming up with the organization RIP Medical Debt to help eliminate $10 million in medical bills for residents around the state.
Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic earned winners' medals at the U.S. Open.
Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales announced his resignation in an interview with Piers Morgan following backlash over his kiss with soccer star Jenni Hermoso following the national team's World Cup final win.
