Later in the year, his Vuelta a Espana campaign was cut
short following
another crash in Stage 16, which led to his abandonment when he
was leading the points and mountains classifications. While he was able to
return to cyclocross in the winter and showed strong form at points, road
racing is overall more of a dangerous sport due to the high speeds and road
surfaces. Could this be a factor?
2025 so far
Van Aert made his 2025 road debut at Clasica Jaén, but his
performance did not meet the usual high expectations. He finished 24th, a
result that his team openly admitted was disappointing. "We certainly
expected more," Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s DS stated after the race.
However, Van Aert himself remained calm, saying, "I'm certainly not bad,
but I felt that I wouldn't win."
The debate about Van Aert’s current level continued at the Volta
ao Algarve, where he had ambitions to fight for a sprint victory yesterday but
was hindered by poor positioning. He acknowledged the issue, stating, "I
lost too many positions there to ride a good sprint."
Benji Naesen further observed on Twitter that "Wout van
Aert seemed a bit uncomfortable fighting for positions, losing 3 places in
every corner leading up to the sprint." This has led to speculation about
whether he is struggling to regain his confidence in tight racing situations, a
crucial aspect of his ability to contest for wins.
Too early to worry
Despite these early struggles, former professional and
cycling analyst Johan Bruyneel has downplayed any major concerns about Van
Aert’s form. "There is no reason to worry about Wout van Aert,"
Bruyneel assured, believing that Van Aert is simply working towards his peak
and will be in top shape when it matters most for races like the Tour of
Flanders.
Van Aert himself remains focused on improving. "Win? I
really want that, yes," he has said in the Algarve, and surely it won’t take
much longer before we see Van Aert back to his brilliant best.
While there is little doubt about Van Aert’s physical
ability, the mental impact of last year’s crashes should not be overlooked.
Riders who experience major accidents often need time to regain their
confidence in the chaos of the peloton. This could explain why he appeared
hesitant in positioning battles at the
Volta ao Algarve.
While Van Aert’s opening performances of 2025 have not set
the world alight, it is too soon to sound any alarm bells. He is returning from
a difficult 2024 season and is gradually building back to his peak, and naturally
this will take some time.
His struggles with positioning in the sprints could
hint at lingering mental barriers from last year’s crashes, but he has time to
refine his form. As Johan Bruyneel pointed out, the real goal is to peak for
the
Tour of Flanders, and if Van Aert can progress steadily in the coming
weeks, there may be no reason for concern at all.