ANALYSIS: Why has Wout van Aert fallen short in the monuments?

Wout van Aert is one of the most gifted cyclists of his generation. He can do a little bit of everything, the Belgian has excelled in cyclocross, time trials, sprints, and climbing, making him one of the most complete riders in the peloton.

Yet, despite his extraordinary talent and a glittering record at the Tour de France, the 30-year-old Belgian has only one Monument victory to his name: Milano-Sanremo in 2020. When compared to his arch-rival Mathieu van der Poel, who has won 6 monuments, this is not a great record for a man of his talent.

So, why hasn’t Van Aert won more Monuments? Is it simply bad luck, or the presence of rivals like Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar? Let’s take a look at his career and see if we can find any clues as to why he’s not got more monuments to his name.

Van Aert’s sole Monument victory came in the 2020 edition of Milano - Sanremo, a race that probably suits his attributes best. The decisive moment came on the Poggio, where Van Aert followed world champion Julian Alaphilippe’s attack, the two riders then descended together to the finish line, where Van Aert edged out the Frenchman in a sprint. At that point, van Aert was entering the prime of his career, and many thought that the win would be the first of many.

However, his success in other one-day races has not translated into any more monument wins. He has come close several times, second at the Tour of Flanders in 2020 and 2022, third at Paris-Roubaix in 2022, and multiple top-five finishes in Liège-Bastogne-Liège and other classics. Outside the Monuments, Van Aert has won smaller one-day races like Strade Bianche , Amstel Gold Race, and Gent-Wevelgem.

These results are impressive, and someone like Mads Pedersen would love to have even one monument win. But the lack of more Monument wins for Van Aert stands out, especially when you consider some of his incredible Tour de France performances. So is it simply a case of bad luck?

Bad luck has certainly played a part in Van Aert’s monument woes. Mechanical issues, untimely crashes, and injuries have hampered his chances in key races. For example, in the 2023 Paris-Roubaix, a puncture at a crucial moment ended his podium hopes.

Moreover, there’s no doubt that Van Aert competes in an era of exceptional one-day racers. Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Julian Alaphilippe have all delivered breathtaking performances in Monuments, often at Van Aert’s expense. Pogacar’s dominance in long climbs has made him nearly unbeatable in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, while Van der Poel’s mastery of the cobbles have seen him win races like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix multiple times.

This raises the question: is it just the misfortune of competing against extraordinary rivals, or is there something deeper preventing Van Aert from converting his talent into more Monument wins? On the topic of Mathieu van der Poel, let’s take a closer look.

Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel are two of the fiercest rivals in modern cycling, and they’re often noted for having similar styles and talents. But, there’s actually crucial difference in their careers so far. One’s been the king of the monuments, whilst the other has lit up stages at grand tours.

Van der Poel has cemented himself as a Monument specialist, with six victories: three at the Tour of Flanders (2020, 2022, 2024), two at Paris-Roubaix (2023, 2024), and one at Milano - Sanremo (2023). In contrast, Van Aert has only his 2020 Milano - Sanremo victory but has shone in the Tour de France, where he has won 9 stages, compared to van der Poel who has only won 1 back in 2021.

Van Aert’s ability on all terrains has made him a standout performer in the Tour. His nine stage wins throughout the years having included sprints, time trials, and even mountainous stages like his win on Mont Ventoux. When was the last time a rider was capable of winning the green jersey and also win on one of the Tour’s most infamous climbs?

In contrast, Van der Poel singular Tour de France stage win largely is largely due to his role in helping teammate Jasper Philipsen secure sprint victories. This dynamic highlights an interesting trade-off: Van der Poel sacrifices personal success in the Tour to benefit his team, while Van Aert’s freedom within Team | Visma Lease a Bike allows him to chase personal glory. But that’s not entirely true, as Van Aert has often played a crucial role in supporting Jonas Vingegaard in the high mountains.

Despite these differences, the contrast between their Monument performances remains stark. Van der Poel has consistently delivered in the biggest one-day races, while Van Aert’s palmarès in these events remains surprisingly limited when compared to his talent.

Van Aert’s Tour de France success can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, his all-rounder abilities make him a threat on any stage, whether it’s a flat sprint, a hilly breakaway, or a time trial. His tactical intelligence and racing instincts allow him to position himself perfectly, while his raw power ensures he can outsprint rivals or ride them off his wheel in the closing kilometres.

The Tour’s nature as a multi-stage race suits Van Aert’s consistency. In Monuments, one bad day can end your chances, but in the Tour, Van Aert has multiple opportunities to shine. This difference in format may explain why he thrives in the Tour while struggling to add more Monuments to his name, but it still doesn’t really answer the question as to why he often comes up short in the monuments.

The question remains: can Wout van Aert overcome these challenges and add more Monuments to his palmarès? He undoubtedly has the talent and the physical attributes, but he is now 30, and his versatility will not last forever.

Mental factors could also play a role. The pressure of being Belgium’s biggest cycling star may weigh heavily on Van Aert, particularly in the country’s cherished races like the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The media in Belgium is particularly centred around their cyclists performances, and Van Aert must be desperate to deliver a monument for them once more.

Let’s get one thing straight. Wout van Aert is one of the very best riders of his generation. There is absolutely no reason why he can’t win more monuments, and he is comfortably the closest rival to Van der Poel in the classics. Yes, it’s been a long while since we saw Wout claim monument glory, but another win could be right around the corner. Last year, van der Poel claimed the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in back to back weeks, but Van Aert was out of action with an injury. If he’s fit and healthy come next spring, he could turn the tables and pick up two more monuments back to back.