So, has 2025 really been that bad for the Belgian? Or do his
fans need to show some patience? Lets find out.
2025 so far
Van Aert began his 2025 campaign at the Cyclocross World
Championships, where he finished second to his long time rival Mathieu van der
Poel. While a runner-up finish at a world championship is not a bad result on
paper, the manner of his defeat was worrying.
Unlike previous years when the two were neck and neck,
separated by the finest of margins, this time Van der Poel was streets ahead.
Van Aert never looked in contention for the victory, which was a stark contrast
to their last cyclocross world title battle in 2023.
His first road race of the year came at the Clasica Jaen in
mid-February. A race of attrition and intensity, it is the kind of event where
Van Aert’s endurance and versatility should normally shine. Instead, he
struggled and finished in 39th place, a result that raised eyebrows.
After the race, he acknowledged that he was not in his best
shape, saying, “I’m certainly not bad, but I felt that I wouldn’t win.” This
was not an outright admission of poor form, but it suggested he was far from
his top level.
Hoping to improve, Van Aert then turned his attention to the
Volta ao Algarve. This was a step in the right direction, but he still was not
at his very best. His most notable performance came in the final day’s time
trial, where he finished second to his Team Visma | Lease a Bike teammate Jonas
Vingegaard.
Wout van Aert's start to 2025 has been slow... at best. @Imago
He also managed to secure third place in the points
classification. While this was an improvement on his Clasica Jaen result, it
was still far from the commanding performances his fans have come to expect.
Then came Opening Weekend, the much-anticipated start of the
Belgian cycling season and the beginning of the spring classics. Traditionally,
these races are a key focus for Van Aert, as they give an early indication of
his form ahead of the Monuments. However, his performances were again below
expectations this past weekend.
He finished 11th at
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, a race where he
has been a serious contender in the past, and then a disappointing 75th at
Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. Speaking after Omloop, he admitted, “I just wasn’t
feeling well in the race.” This was not the superstar Opening Weekend his fans
were hoping for, and it added further fuel to the speculation that something
was not quite right.
How does 2025 compare to previous years?
These early performances have led to inevitable questions.
After all, 2025 was supposed to be the year in which Van Aert put the struggles
of 2024 behind him and returned to the top of the sport, as injuries derailed
much of his previous season, and he was forced to miss key races.
This year, he has targeted the Tour of Flanders and
Paris-Roubaix as his biggest goals once again. However, his slow start has led
some to wonder whether he will be in peak condition when those races arrive.
But are fans overreacting?
To understand whether this is a cause for concern, it is
important to compare Van Aert’s start to 2025 with his starts in previous
seasons. Looking back at his past campaigns, a clear pattern emerges.
In 2024, he also started the season slowly, finishing 10th
at the Clasica de America and 45th at Clasica Jaen. However, his first win came
on stage three of the Volta ao Algarve, which was his fifth race of the year.
He also started his classics campaign strongly, finishing third at Omloop Het
Nieuwsblad and winning Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
That was an important indicator of his form and his ability
to compete for big victories later in the spring, and his 2025 results at
Omloop and Kuurne have been notably worse. But, he still wasn’t winning races
left right and centre to start the year.
In 2023, Van Aert had to wait even longer for his first
victory of the season, as his first win came on March 24th at the E3 Saxo
Classic. Before that, he had no wins at Tirreno-Adriatico and finished third at
Milano-Sanremo. Despite this slow start, he went on to have a strong spring
classics campaign and remained a key contender throughout the season.
Looking at his 2022 season, the contrast is striking to 2025.
That year, which is widely regarded as his best, Van Aert started the season by
winning Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, and that victory set the tone for an incredible
campaign, which included three stage wins and the green jersey at the Tour de
France, all while helping Jonas Vingegaard secure the overall victory. His
early dominance in 2022 was a reflection of his best form, and that year serves
as a reference point for what peak Van Aert looks like.
In 2021, his season began with a fourth-place finish at
Strade Bianche before he won his second race of the year, taking victory on
stage one of Tirreno-Adriatico. This was another example of a relatively quick
start, though not as immediate as 2022. Meanwhile, in 2020, his form built up
more gradually. That year, he finished 11th at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad before
winning his first race of the year at Strade Bianche during the COVID-affected
season, and the Belgian followed that up by winning Milano-Sanremo in August.
These comparisons suggest that Van Aert’s form tends to peak
later in the season rather than in February or early March. While his 2022
campaign was an exception where he started fast, most other years have seen him
gradually improve as the season progresses. This provides some reassurance that
his slow start to 2025 does not necessarily mean he will struggle when the
biggest races arrive.
Johan Bruyneel has also downplayed concerns, stating, “There
is no reason to worry about Wout van Aert,” and predicting that he will reach
his peak form in time for the Tour of Flanders. Van Aert himself has expressed
confidence that he is on the right track, saying, “I also needed to throw
myself back in and enjoy it.” While these statements suggest that there is no
panic within his camp, fans will still be eager to see improvements in the
coming weeks.
Will we see the best of Van Aert in 2025?
Van Aert’s primary goal for 2025 is
to finally win a second
Monument. His last Monument victory came at Milano-Sanremo in 2020, and since
then, he has had several near misses. This year, he is focusing heavily on the
Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, two races currently in the stronghold of
his nemesis:
Mathieu van der Poel.
If history is anything to go by, there is still time for him
to reach peak condition before those races. His biggest tests are still to
come, and if he can time his form correctly, his slow start to the year will
soon be forgotten.
While Van Aert’s results in 2025 have not been encouraging
so far, history suggests that this is not necessarily a major issue for him. He
has often taken time to build into his best form, and it is possible that this
season will follow a similar trajectory.
However, his fans will be hoping to see signs of improvement
soon. If his performances do not pick up before the major classics, then
concerns over his form will only grow.