"I also needed to throw myself back in and enjoy it” – Wout van Aert believes he is on the right track

By his own high standards, Wout van Aert has had a difficult beginning to his 2025 road campaign. The 30-year-old struggled in his season opener at the Clásica Jaén a week ago but showed progress at the Volta ao Algarve, where his Team Visma | Lease a Bike teammate Jonas Vingegaard took the overall victory.

Van Aert delivered a stronger performance in Portugal, finishing second in the final day’s time trial and securing seventh place on both Stage 3 and Stage 4. Reflecting on his progress, he told Net Nieuwsblad, "I felt myself getting better day by day here in Portugal."

Van Aert explained that racing, rather than just training, has been key to unlocking improvements in his form. The Belgian endured a stop-start 2024, riddled with injuries that prevented us from seeing him at his brilliant best.

"We were also looking for that extra percentage that I could get by racing instead of training and I think we succeeded."

Comparing his struggles in Jaén to his improved condition in the Algarve, he acknowledged the stark contrast between the two performances.

"I really feel the difference with the Clásica Jaén last Monday. I would almost say: a world of difference. The first race is sometimes a shock to the system and in Jaén that was certainly the case with the gravel. Let me ride the Tour of the Algarve first and Jaén two days later and you would have had a much more realistic picture of how good I was. I am convinced that I have made a step forward."

Van Aert recognised that his sprint is most effective in tougher race conditions, which didn’t quite materialise at the Volta ao Algarve.

"I know that my sprint is much more effective in tougher races. Saturday was therefore my best chance on paper, but both the course and the race conditions were easier than I had expected."

Competing against pure sprinters, he acknowledged the difficulties of matching their speed.

"If I have to sprint against men like Meeus, De Lie, Fretin or Dainese, it must have been either very tough or everything must go well. I don't have the top speed of those pure sprinters."

Van Aert also reflected on his return to racing on the road following his crash at the Vuelta a España last year, which ended his race whilst he let both the sprint and mountains classifications.

"I also needed to throw myself back in and enjoy it."