Wout van Aert
Wout van Aert (born 15 September 1994) is a Belgian professional road and cyclo-cross racer, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam Team Jumbo–Visma.[6] He won the men's elite race at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in 2016,[7] 2017 and 2018. He joined Team Jumbo–Visma[4] in March 2019, on a three-year deal[8] after terminating his contract with Vérandas Willems–Crelan in 2018.
_-_World_Champion.jpg.webp) Van Aert in 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Wout van Aert | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 15 September 1994 Herentals, Flanders, Belgium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 78 kg (172 lb; 12 st 4 lb)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current team | Team Jumbo–Visma | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disciplines |
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| Role | Rider | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rider type | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amateur team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Cibel–Cebon Offroad Team[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional teams | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Telenet–Fidea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2016 | Vastgoedservice–Golden Palace | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Vérandas Willems–Crelan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019– | Team Jumbo–Visma[4][5] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Major wins | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Career
Van Aert was born in Lille, Flanders, and started his career in cyclo-cross where he became World champion (2016, 2017, 2018) and Belgian champion (2016, 2017, 2018, 2021).
He rode the 2018 Strade Bianche, held partly on gravel roads in torrential rain. He broke away with Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale) and the pair lead the race for much of the final 40 kilometres (25 miles) before Tiesj Benoot (Lotto–Soudal) attacked from a chasing group to catch and then drop them in the final sector of dirt roads. Benoot soloed to victory by 39 seconds ahead of Bardet,[9] who dropped van Aert in the final kilometre; van Aert ultimately completed the podium a further 19 seconds in arrears, despite having to remount his bicycle after falling on the final climb in Siena.[9]
Transfer controversy
Van Aert rode with the Vérandas Willems–Crelan team during road races in 2018. Over the year, he expressed dissatisfaction with the news that the team was set to merge with Roompot–Nederlandse Loterij for 2019. Having already signed a contract to ride with Team Jumbo–Visma from 2020 onwards, he terminated his contract with Vérandas Willems–Crelan in September 2018. Were he to join another team for 2019, Sniper Cycling – the owners of the Vérandas Willems–Crelan team – were said to be demanding €500,000 in compensation. LottoNL–Jumbo were reported to be interested in signing van Aert a year earlier than originally agreed,[10] and confirmation of the transfer was announced in December 2018, with van Aert joining the team from 1 March 2019.[8]
Jumbo–Visma (2019–present)
In June 2019, van Aert won two stages and the green jersey in the Critérium du Dauphiné, became national time trial champion, and won the bronze medal in the road race at the national championship. In July 2019, he was named in the startlist for the Tour de France.[11] On 15 July, van Aert won Stage 10 from Saint-Flour to Albi, in a sprint finish ahead of Elia Viviani and Caleb Ewan.[12] On 19 July, he had a crash during the individual time trial stage in Pau, and was forced to abandon the race due to his injuries. It was not known at the time whether he would recover for the cyclocross season or even the classics at the start of the 2020 road cycling season.[13]
Van Aert later told newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws that the crash was so severe that it could have ended his career, worsened by a mistake during his surgery, when doctors did not properly work on one of his tendons.[14][15] In November 2019, van Aert won the Flandrien of the Year award.[16]
On 1 August 2020, Van Aert won the first rescheduled 2020 UCI World Tour race to be held following the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 Strade Bianche after attacking solo with around 13 kilometers remaining.[17] The following week, Van Aert won the rescheduled 2020 Milan–San Remo after outsprinting French rider Julian Alaphilippe, the defending champion, of Deceuninck–Quick-Step, in a two-up sprint, after the duo had broken away from the peloton on the descent of the Poggio.[18]
On 2 September 2020, he won the 5th stage of the Tour de France from Gap to Privas, in a light uphill sprint. He also won the sprint in the 7th stage Millau to Lavaur. At the 2020 World Championships in Imola Wout van Aert won the silver medal in both the individual time trial and in the road race.
Career achievements
Cyclo-cross
- 2011–2012
- 2nd
UCI World Junior Championships - 2nd National Junior Championships
- 2nd Overall Junior Superprestige
- 6th Overall UCI Junior World Cup
- 2012–2013
- 1st Overall Under-23 Superprestige
- 2nd Overall UCI Under-23 World Cup
- 3rd
UCI World Under-23 Championships - 3rd National Under-23 Championships
- 8th Overall Under-23 BPost Bank Trophy
- 2013–2014
- 1st
UCI World Under-23 Championships - 1st Overall Under-23 BPost Bank Trophy
- 1st Grand Prix van Hasselt
- 1st Grand Prix Rouwmoer
- 1st Azencross
- 1st Grand Prix Sven Nys
- 1st Krawatencross
- 1st Nationale Cyclo-Cross Otegem
- 2nd Overall UCI Under-23 World Cup
- 1st Cyclo-cross Namur
- 1st Grand Prix Nommay
- 2nd Overall Under-23 Superprestige
- 1st Cyclo-cross Gavere
- 1st Vlaamse Aardbeiencross
- 1st Noordzeecross
- 2014–2015
- 1st
UEC European Under-23 Championships - 1st Overall BPost Bank Trophy
- 1st Cyclo-cross Koppenberg
- 1st Bollekescross
- 1st Grand Prix Rouwmoer
- 1st Azencross
- 1st Grand Prix Sven Nys
- 2nd Grand Prix van Hasselt
- 2nd Krawatencross
- 1st Versluys Cyclocross
- 1st Zilvermeercross
- 1st Kasteelcross
- 1st Grote Prijs Stad Eeklo
- 1st Malheur Kleicross
- 1st Sluitingsprijs Oostmalle
- 2nd UCI World Championships
- 2nd Jaarmarktcross Niel
- 2nd Soudal Cyclocross Masters Waregem
- 3rd National Championships
- UCI World Cup
- 3rd Overall UCI Under-23 World Cup
- Superprestige
- 3rd Vlaamse Aardbeiencross
- 3rd Noordzeecross
- Under-23 Superprestige
- 2015–2016
- 1st UCI World Championships[7]
- 1st
National Championships - 1st
Overall UCI World Cup
- 1st CrossVegas
- 2nd Cauberg Cyclo-cross
- 2nd Duinencross Koksijde
- 2nd Cyclo-cross Namur
- 2nd Cyclo-cross Lignières-en-Berry
- 2nd Grand Prix Adri van der Poel
- 1st Overall Superprestige
- 1st Overall Bpost Bank Trophy
- 1st GP Mario De Clercq
- 1st Cyclo-cross Koppenberg
- 1st Bollekescross
- 1st Grand Prix Rouwmoer
- 1st Scheldecross Antwerpen
- 1st Grand Prix Sven Nys
- 2nd Waaslandcross
- 3rd Azencross
- 1st Soudal GP Neerpelt
- 1st Steenbergcross
- 1st Polderscross
- 1st Zilvermeercross[20]
- 1st Grote Prijs Stad Eeklo
- 2nd
UEC European Championships[21] - 2nd Niels Albert CX
- 2nd Sluitingsprijs Oostmalle
- 2nd Soudal Cyclocross Masters
- 2016–2017
- 1st UCI World Championships
- 1st National Championships
- 1st Overall UCI World Cup
- 1st CrossVegas
- 1st Jingle Cross
- 1st Grand Prix Erik De Vlaeminck
- 1st Memorial Romano Scotti
- 2nd Cauberg Cyclo-cross
- 2nd Cyclo-cross Zeven
- 2nd Cyclo-cross Namur
- 1st Overall DVV Verzekeringen Trophy
- 1st GP Mario De Clercq
- 1st Cyclo-cross Koppenberg
- 1st Grand Prix Rouwmoer
- 1st Azencross
- 2nd Bollekescross
- 2nd Scheldecross Antwerpen
- 2nd Grand Prix Sven Nys
- 2nd Krawatencross
- 2nd Overall Superprestige
- Brico Cross
- 1st Muur van Geraardsbergen
- 1st Versluys Cyclocross
- 2nd Polderscross
- 3rd Vestingcross
- 1st Trek CXC Cup 2
- 1st Kermiscross
- 1st Niels Albert CX
- 1st Sluitingsprijs Oostmalle
- 2nd Zilvermeercross
- 2nd Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse
- 3rd
UEC European Championships - 2017–2018
- 1st UCI World Championships
- 1st National Championships
- 2nd Overall UCI World Cup
- 1st Poldercross Zeven
- 1st Cyclo-cross Namur
- 2nd CrossDenmark
- 2nd Grand Prix Nommay
- 2nd Grand Prix Adri van der Poel
- 3rd Duinencross Koksijde
- 3rd Grand Prix Erik De Vlaeminck
- 2nd Overall Superprestige
- 3rd Overall DVV Trophy
- 2nd Flandriencross
- 2nd Scheldecross Antwerpen
- 2nd Azencross
- 2nd Grand Prix Sven Nys
- 3rd Hotondcross
- Brico Cross
- 1st Bingoalcyclocross
- 2nd Grote Prijs Stad Eeklo
- 2nd Polderscross
- 3rd Berencross
- 1st Kermiscross
- 1st Waaslandcross
- 2nd Cyclocross Otegem
- 2018–2019
- 2nd Overall UCI World Cup
- 1st Cyclo-cross Pontchâteau
- 2nd World Cup Waterloo
- 2nd Jingle Cross
- 2nd Cyclo-cross Bern
- 2nd Duinencross Koksijde
- 2nd Cyclo-cross Namur
- 2nd Grand Prix Erik De Vlaeminck
- 3rd Grand Prix Adri van der Poel
- Superprestige
- DVV Trophy
- 2nd Scheldecross Antwerpen
- 2nd Azencross
- 3rd Koppenbergcross
- Brico Cross
- 1st Bredenecross
- 2nd Muur van Geraardsbergen
- 2nd Berencross
- 2nd Hotondcross
- 1st Cyclo-cross La Meziere
- 1st Kermiscross
- 2nd UCI World Championships
- 2nd UEC European Championships
- 2nd National Championships
- 3rd Ambiancecross
- 2019–2020
- DVV Trophy
- 1st Krawatencross
- 2nd Kasteelcross Zonnebeke
- 2020–2021
- 1st National Championships
- 1st Overall UCI World Cup
- 1st Cyclo-cross Dendermonde
- 1st Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse
- 2nd Cyclo-cross Namur
- 2nd Vestingcross
- 3rd Cyklokros Tábor
- X²O Badkamers Trophy
- 1st Cyclo-cross Herentals
- 2nd Grand Prix Sven Nys
- 2nd Flandriencross
- 3rd Urbancross
- 1st Zilvermeercross
- Superprestige
- 2nd UCI World Championships
Major championships timeline
| Event | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships |
2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
 European Championships |
2 | 3 | — | 2 | — | — | — |
 National Championships |
3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
Road
- 2012
- 4th Overall Sint-Martinusprijs Kontich
- 2014
- 8th Overall Ster ZLM Toer
- 2015
- 4th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad U23
- 4th Grote Prijs Jef Scherens
- 2016
- 1st Schaal Sels
- 2nd Dwars door het Hageland
- 4th Grand Prix Pino Cerami
- 8th Overall Tour of Belgium
- 1st Prologue
- 2017
- 1st Ronde van Limburg
- 1st Bruges Cycling Classic
- 1st Grand Prix Pino Cerami
- 2nd Schaal Sels
- 2nd Rad am Ring
- 3rd Dwars door het Hageland
- 10th Overall Tour of Belgium
- 2018
- 1st
Overall Danmark Rundt
- 1st Stage 2
- 3rd Road race, UEC European Road Championships
- 3rd Strade Bianche
- 8th Antwerp Port Epic
- 9th Tour of Flanders
- 10th Gent–Wevelgem
- 2019
- National Road Championships
- 1st Time trial
- 3rd Road race
- 1st
- Critérium du Dauphiné
- 1st
Points classification - 1st Stages 4 (ITT) & 5
- 1st
- Tour de France
- 1st Stages 2 (TTT) & 10
- Held after Stages 2–5
- 2nd E3 Binckbank Classic
- 3rd Strade Bianche
- 6th Milan–San Remo
- 2020
- 1st Time trial, National Road Championships
- 1st Milan–San Remo
- 1st Strade Bianche
- Tour de France
- 1st Stages 5 & 7
- Critérium du Dauphiné
- 1st Points classification
- 1st Stage 1
- 1st
- UCI Road World Championships
- 2nd Road race
- 2nd Time trial
- 2nd
- 2nd Tour of Flanders
- 3rd Milano–Torino
- 8th Gent–Wevelgem
Grand Tour general classification results timeline
| Grand Tour | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|
 Giro d'Italia |
— | — |
 Tour de France |
DNF | 20 |
 Vuelta a España |
— | — |
Classics results timeline
| Monument | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milan–San Remo | — | 6 | 1 |
| Tour of Flanders | 9 | 14 | 2 |
| Paris–Roubaix | 13 | 22 | NH |
| Liège–Bastogne–Liège | — | — | — |
| Giro di Lombardia | — | — | — |
| Classic | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Omloop Het Nieuwsblad | 32 | 13 | 11 |
| Strade Bianche | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| E3 BinckBank Classic | — | 2 | NH |
| Gent–Wevelgem | 10 | 29 | 8 |
| Dwars door Vlaanderen | 83 | — | NH |
| Amstel Gold Race | — | 58 |
Major championships timeline
| Event | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships |
Individual time trial | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| Road race | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | |
.png.webp){kind=small} European Championships |
Road race | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — |
| National Championships |
Time trial | — | — | — | 6 | — | 1 | 1 |
| Road race | 63 | 47 | 9 | 60 | 13 | 3 | — | |
| — | Did not compete |
|---|---|
| DNF | Did not finish |
| DSQ | Disqualified |
| NH | Not Held |
Awards and honours
- Flandrien Award: 2019,[22] 2020[23]
- Belgian Sportsman of the year: 2020[24]
- Belgian National Sports Merit Award: 2020[25]
- Vlaamse Reus: 2020[26]
- Kristallen Fiets: 2020[27]
References
- "Team Jumbo-Visma - Wout van Aert". Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Wout van Aert". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Van Aert to race cyclo-cross season with Cibel-Cebon". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- "Cheery Christmas for ambitious Team Jumbo-Visma". Team Jumbo–Visma. Team Oranje Road BV. 21 December 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- "Team Jumbo-Visma 2020 roster presented in Amsterdam". Bianchi. F.I.V. Edoardo Bianchi S.p.A. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- "Jumbo-Visma". UCI.org. Union Cycliste Internationale. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- "Van Aert takes emotional World Championship victory". cyclingnews.com. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
- "Van Aert joins Team Jumbo-Visma from March 2019". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- Windsor, Richard (3 March 2018). "Tiesj Benoot puts in super show of strength to win 2018 Strade Bianche". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- "Wout van Aert's lawyer expects UCI to allow rider to race in 2019". cyclingnews.com. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
- "2019: 106th Tour de France: Start List". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- "Tour de France: Van Aert raises his own bar with exceptional sprint win".
- "Tour de France: Van Aert crashes out of time trial". cyclingnews.com. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- Audoore, Bart (4 September 2019). "Wout van Aert mist zijn fiets: "Een klein toertje zou al deugd doen"". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- Long, Jonny (5 September 2019). "Wout van Aert says Tour de France crash 'could have been the end of my career'". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- "Van Aert wins Flandrien of the Year award". cyclingnews.com. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
- O'Shea, Sadhbh; Ostanek, Daniel; Frattini, Kirsten (1 August 2020). "Wout van Aert storms to victory at Strade Bianche". CyclingNews. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- Ostanek, Daniel (8 August 2020). "Wout van Aert wins thrilling Milan-San Remo". CyclingNews. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- Decaluwé, Brecht (8 November 2015). "Pauwels takes his first win of the season in Ruddervoorde". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
- "Van Aert dominates sandy Zilvermeercross in Mol". cyclingnews.com. 12 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- Decaluwé, Brecht (7 November 2015). "Van der Haar wins Elite men's European Cyclo-Cross title". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
- "Opsteker voor Van Aert: hij is de Flandrien van het Jaar na thriller". Sporza website (in Dutch). 5 November 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- "Van Aert and Kopecky win 2020 Flandrien of the year". Cyclingnews.com. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- "Wout van Aert verkozen tot Belgisch sportman van het jaar". wielerflits (in Dutch). 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
- "Wout van Aert wins National Trophy for Sports Merit". alkhaleejtoday.co. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- "Wout van Aert mag nu ook Vlaamse Reus in prijzenkast zetten". Sporza website (in Dutch). 4 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- "Wout van Aert wint voor het eerst de Kristallen Fiets". wielerflits (in Dutch). 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wout Van Aert. |
- Wout van Aert at Cycling Archives
- Wout van Aert at ProCyclingStats