Wout van Aert
Nationality: Belgian
Date of birth: September 15, 1994
Team: Jumbo-Visma
Twitter: @WoutvanAert
Wout van Aert is among the illustrious rank of riders who began their career riding the mud before transferring to the road, alongside Cadel Evans, Jakob Fuglsang, Peter Sagan and Matthieu van der Poel. Starting in cyclocross, Van Aert dominated the under-23 ranks, winning the Superprestige and World Championships, before replicating this at the senior level. For three successive years, the Belgian won the World Championship and National Championship titles.
In recent years, Van Aert has lived up to his potential as a Classics talent. He finished third in his Strade Bianche debut and 13th in his first Paris-Roubaix, both in 2018. In 2019 he want on to take third in Strade Bianche (again), second in the E3 BinckBank Classic and sixth in Milan-Ran Remo.
After a successful Classics campaign in 2019, there were high expectations for his Tour de France debut. Van Aert had already won two stages at the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Belgian National Time Trial Championships. The high expectations were met with his maiden Grand Tour stage victory in stage 10 from Saint-Flour to Albi, outsprinting Elia Viviani and Caleb Ewan.
He was also a remarkable support rider for sprinter Dylan Groenewegen, with Van Aert holding 500 watts for around five minutes during his lead-out effort on stage seven, which was eventually won by Groenewegen.
Then three stages later, he suffered a severe crash during an ITT. He was battling his compatriot Thomas De Gendt for the provisional stage lead before clipping a barrier in the final few kilometres, leading to a heavy cut to his upper leg.
The injury could have ended Van Aert's career, but after a long recovery process he returned to competition in December 2019, racing cyclocross in Loenhout and finishing fifth in his first race back. The 2019/2020 cyclocross season was an opportunity for Van Aert to return to fitness ready for a new Classics campaign, while also returning to his best on the CX circuit.
Latest
-
The six cyclo-cross races where Wout van Aert will face Mathieu van der Poel this year
The great Dutch and Belgian rivals will clash first on 22 December
By Adam Becket Last updated
-
Tour of Britain future plunged into doubt over £700,000 legal battle
British Cycling alleges race organiser SweetSpot will owe £700,000 in unpaid race licence fees by the end of 2023
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Wout van Aert to target Giro d'Italia general classification in 2024
Belgian will target top five finish at Italian Grand Tour as leader of Jumbo-Visma, according to reports
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Wout van Aert rides Gravel World Championships faster than winner, finishes 8th
29-year-old's Garmin file suggests his form was on par with Matej Mohorič
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Wout van Aert 'forced to fight' for second Tour of Britain victory
‘I had to stay calm’ says the Belgian after Carlos Rodriguez piles on the pressure on tough final stage in Caerphilly
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Wout van Aert wins Tour of Britain by three seconds as Carlos Rodríguez solos to stage eight victory
Jumbo-Visma rider repeats 2021 success to win the race for a second time
By Tom Davidson Published
-
‘It will be a matter of legs’ - Wout van Aert in confident mindset ahead of Tour of Britain finale
Belgian says attack was the best form of defence for Jumbo-Visma after race explodes in Gloucestershire
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘It was a crazy plan’ - Wout van Aert on his stunning solo Tour of Britain stage win
Belgian superstar says it’s now ‘up to the others’ to attack him as Jumbo-Visma rider takes over race lead
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘You need to have the legs’ - Olav Kooij continues Tour of Britain dominance with third successive stage win
Dutchman completes hat trick of Jumbo-Visma victories ahead of Danny van Poppel and Great Britain’s Ethan Vernon
By Tom Thewlis Published