⏳ The 2025 cycling season, a complex narrative of triumphs and setbacks for Belgian powerhouse Wout van Aert, is finally drawing to a close. Despite achieving significant victories, including stage wins at both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, the year has been marked by inconsistency and intense psychological pressure, particularly in the Spring Classics where he desperately sought an elusive Monument victory.
The Visma–Lease a Bike star, whose season included an ambitious calendar with his debut at the Giro, has confirmed his road campaign concluded in September, skipping both the European and World Championships to ensure adequate rest. As he shifts his focus to a limited Cyclocross schedule, Van Aert offered a candid reflection on his emotional state, captured by the simple yet profound admission: “I know I have to keep believing in myself.”
🎯 The Monumental Challenge
Van Aert’s 2025 road season, though packed with high-level racing, featured few of the decisive victories fans have come to expect outside of the Grand Tour stage wins. The spring, particularly, failed to deliver the prize he craves most: victory in the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix. He finished fourth in both Cobbled Monuments, performances that, while impressive by any other measure, left the champion feeling short of his ultimate goal.
The Belgian acknowledged the fierce competition from rivals like Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar, who often proved just a touch stronger in the finals of the biggest races. Yet, he insists the desire remains unquenched.
“If I’m not allowed to believe I can win the Tour of Flanders, then maybe only three riders in the world can still believe it,” he stated in a recent interview. “It will be very hard to win Flanders and the same goes for Roubaix, but it remains a logical career goal for me. I’m still very close. So yes, I want to keep chasing it.”
🧘 Finding Peace in the Pursuit
The high-pressure environment surrounding Van Aert means every race is scrutinized, and anything less than a win can feel like a failure. This season, however, appears to have fostered a new sense of emotional balance. While he maintains his competitive edge—”To be clear: I always race to win”—he is learning to cope with defeat more constructively.
He notes that his ability to “dare to race to win,” attacking aggressively even when rivals were stronger, brought a measure of satisfaction, even in fourth place. “In the past I might have been more disappointed, but now I was more at peace with the level I reached and how close I was,” he explained. This mental shift suggests Van Aert is no longer letting disappointing results define his entire season, instead drawing strength from his hard-fought battles and newfound resilience.
As he prepares for his brief winter cyclocross outing before the start of the 2026 season, the countdown to his official end-of-year rest is clearly a motivating factor. It will provide the necessary physical and psychological break needed to fully recharge and ensure he returns with the unwavering self-belief required to finally conquer the Monuments that have, thus far, eluded him.