Each day, a website logs all fines and time penalties in a brief report. One particularly unusual entry catches the eye: a fine issued to Wout van Aert. The odd part? The Visma | Lease a Bike rider was penalized well before the Giro d’Italia had even begun — and the reason behind it is even more unexpected.
To understand it, we have to rewind to the 2024 Vuelta a España. Van Aert started the race in exceptional form, consistently placing near the top — finishing in the top three seven times over the first fifteen stages, including three victories. He also held the red leader’s jersey for two stages and even clinched a stage win while wearing it.
Then came misfortune in stage sixteen. A heavy crash on a descent forced Van Aert to withdraw. It was a crushing blow in a season already marred by setbacks, and the worst damage was to his knee. A lengthy recovery process followed.
Viral footage leads to unexpected fine
Following the September crash, Van Aert understandably didn’t race again for the remainder of the season. During his recovery, he spent some downtime with his family in Italy — specifically in Pinzolo, a village in the northern Trento region.
While in Pinzolo, Van Aert tossed his crutches into a waste bin in a symbolic gesture. What he didn’t realize was that he had placed them in the incorrect container. Although he later removed the crutches, HLN reports that he still received a fine.
Security footage had captured the scene, and Van Aert’s car license plate was clearly visible. The bin was intended for plastic and metal only, making the disposal a violation. That alone was enough for Italian authorities to issue a fine, which made its way to Van Aert’s home in Belgium. He paid the penalty without dispute.
