“He sometimes loses credit too quickly” – Wout van Aert hailed for Giro heroics after pivotal role in Simon Yates’ Maglia Rosa win
Cycling
The 2025 Giro d’Italia may have ended in triumph for Simon
Yates, but few would deny that Wout van Aert was one of the race’s most
important figures. As Yates sealed a long-awaited Grand Tour win in Rome, van
Aert’s contributions, both visible and tactical, were widely recognised by
riders and pundits alike.
The Belgian star delivered a masterclass on Stage 20,
waiting at the summit of the Colle delle Finestre and towing Yates down the
descent and into a winning position. It was a selfless and decisive act that was
crucial to Yates’ ultimate capture of the Maglia Rosa.
Van Aert also took a brilliant solo win earlier in the race
on Stage 9, dominating the gravel roads around Siena, a performance that showed
the Belgian is nearing a full return to his best form following a turbulent
start to the season.
Speaking to In de Leiderstrui, Taco van der Hoorn
summed up the admiration within the peloton:
“What he did on Saturday, a rider of his stature does maybe once in his career
and he shows it so often,” van der Hoorn said. “But this is not really new or
anything. It is incredibly impressive, but everyone knows how strong he is. He
has been that way for years and he will always remain that way.”
Van der Hoorn also defended van Aert against past criticism,
“Van Aert is a super strong and fantastic rider, who was sometimes treated
harshly in the press at bad times. You can see now what a difference he makes,
he sometimes loses those credits too quickly.”
Van Aert's two best Giro stages featured gravel
Fellow Visma | Lease a Bike rider Dylan van Baarle was
equally full of praise, “I think there are not many riders like him, who do
what he can,” said van Baarle. “He is always there for his leader at the
important moments in a Grand Tour, while he also wins a stage himself and still
pulls sprints. As a teammate he is invaluable.”
Lidl–Trek’s Daan Hoole, who won a stage at this year’s Giro,
was stunned by van Aert’s physical performance on the mountains.
“If you get that far over that climb with that height and
that weight, you really have to ride a lot of power,” Hoole said. “That is very
impressive, especially after such a long stage. During the day you burn a lot
more because of your weight, because you have to pedal more watts. That you can
still make such an effort is absurd, really very strong.”
Hoole also spoke about the sheer energy demands of the final
week, after Van Aert reportedly burnt over 7000 calories one day, “I have not
been under 6,500 calories the last few days either. They are all big days, so
you have to eat as much as you can. I am perhaps the heaviest rider in this
Giro, so for me it was about surviving and getting through those days as best
as I could.”
Read also
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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