After a difficult 2024 season marked by crashes, injuries,
and inconsistent form, Wout van Aert is under pressure to prove himself in what
feels like a make-or-break spring campaign. Although his 2025 start has lacked
fireworks, Visma's Mathieu Heijboer believes that the Belgian star is on
the right trajectory, and ready to battle with the best once more.
Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, Heijboer acknowledged the
high stakes facing his rider this spring, as Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej
Pogacar continue to raise the bar in the classics.
“Van Aert will really not get more space from Van der Poel
because he is busy with Pogacar,” Heijboer said, highlighting the suffocating
pressure that comes with riding in an era dominated by two generational
talents.
Despite a quiet showing at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne,
Van Aert’s trainer remains optimistic that his form is building at the right
time.
“He has grown mentally. He has gained a lot more confidence
because he feels that his form is returning. We also have every confidence that
he will fight for his position in the coming weeks as usual.”
Van Aert’s subdued performances during Opening Weekend
raised eyebrows. For a rider who is usually aggressive from the get-go,
something felt off, and Heijboer admits there were lingering effects from last
season’s setbacks.
“At times he was scared. That all had to do with his heavy
crashes in 2024. It was not a big issue within the team, but we did talk to
Wout about it to make sure it doesn't happen to him again,” Heijboer revealed.
While Pogacar and Van der Poel continue to produce
headline-grabbing performances, including an unforgettable showdown at Milano-Sanremo
last weekend, Heijboer believes the cycling world has short memories when it
comes to Van Aert’s capabilities.
“Wout was injured for a long time and was unable to compete
last year. As a result, people have forgotten how good Wout is,” he said.
At the same time, he acknowledged the gulf that currently
exists between the two top stars and the rest of the peloton.
“Although I do not deny that Van der Poel and Pogacar are
above the rest and that we as a team had homework after the opening weekend.”
But Heijboer remains firm in his belief that Van Aert can
rejoin the fight, starting with the E3 Saxo Bank Classic and moving into Tour
of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
“But we are not lying on the ropes because they rode such a
beautiful Milan-Sanremo and we are confident that Wout can compete with them,”
he concluded.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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