Wout van Aert is no stranger to glory. The Belgian cycling sensation has built a reputation as one of the most versatile and resilient riders in modern cycling — with wins across cyclo-cross, time trials, sprint finishes, and mountainous terrain. But as the 29-year-old continues to cement his place in the sport’s history books, Van Aert has also revealed a deeper, more vulnerable side that fans rarely get to see: the fear that quietly shadows his most glorious days.
Speaking candidly in a recent interview, Van Aert explained that success has often come with intense emotional strain. “People always talk about the wins, the podiums, the jerseys — and yes, those moments are beautiful,” he said. “But behind them, there’s always this immense pressure. Even on the best days of my career, I’ve been scared of letting everyone down.”
Van Aert’s self-expectations have sometimes mirrored the immense scrutiny from the media and public. With a loyal fanbase and a nation hoping for his triumphs, he’s had to balance ambition with realism. The pressure is especially sharp during races like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, where Belgian pride runs high and the weight of history looms large.
In 2022 and 2023, Van Aert came agonizingly close to winning both Flanders and Roubaix, only to be edged out by his longtime rival Mathieu van der Poel. For Van Aert, these weren’t just missed victories — they were public heartbreaks.
“When you go home after a race like that and you see your family, your teammates — and they all say they’re proud — sometimes, you still feel like you’ve failed,” he admitted. “Because you know how badly they wanted it for you too.”
His wife, Sarah De Bie, and their young son have been a source of strength. “They ground me,” Van Aert said. “They remind me that I am more than a cyclist, more than a jersey.”
Perhaps the most emotionally charged regret for Van Aert is his unfulfilled tribute to the late Michael Goolaerts, a fellow Belgian rider who tragically died following cardiac arrest during the 2018 edition of Paris-Roubaix. Van Aert had long dreamed of winning Roubaix and saluting Goolaerts at the finish line in his honor.
“That loss hit me harder than many people know,” Van Aert reflected. “Every time I ride Roubaix, I think of him. I wanted to dedicate that win to Michael. But it hasn’t happened yet. And it hurts.”
Van Aert has not only faced emotional hurdles but also physical ones. From a severe crash during the 2019 Tour de France to a surprise appendicitis operation in 2024, his path has been repeatedly interrupted. After surgery earlier this year, his yellow jersey ambitions in the Tour’s first week took a back seat.
But quitting has never been part of Van Aert’s DNA.
“I’m here to fight, always. Whether I’m 100% or not,” he said. “Sometimes the fight itself becomes more meaningful than the outcome.”
Despite the near misses, despite the injuries, and despite the burden of public expectation, Wout van Aert continues to race with heart, soul, and an ever-deepening perspective.
“I used to measure everything by results. Now I measure it by how proud I feel after the finish line,” he explained. “Winning is still the goal, but the joy of the journey — of pushing myself, of riding with my team, of hearing the fans — that’s become just as important.”
As the 2025 season unfolds, Van Aert is focused not only on collecting titles but also on rediscovering joy — the very feeling that brought him to the bike as a young boy growing up in Herentals.
And perhaps that is his most remarkable victory yet.
