10/10/2023

"I had planned not to cry, but I failed" - Wout van Aert's coach Marc Lamberts moves onto different challenge together with Primoz Roglic

Wout van Aert has only had one coach as a cyclist and that was Marc Lamberts. Over his junior, under-23 and elite years, as well as combining a successful cyclocross and road career, the duo have worked together perfectly but there will not be a split.

"Last Saturday, before he left for Italy, I visited Wout's home. With the excuse that I wanted to discuss the training plan for 2024. That was true, but I had another announcement," Lamberts shared with Knack. "One that I definitely wanted to tell face to face. I had planned not to cry, but I failed. Wout said he tried to play tough, but it wasn't easy for him either. Logical, after all these years. I can still see him coming here in the summer of 2012, as a seventeen-year-old choirboy of 1.70 meters and 63 kilos, who at that time only aspired to a career in cyclo-cross."

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For many years then the relationship continued, through his early career on the road, he was then simultaneously signed to Jumbo-Visma. He tells the story of helping the Belgian develop into a world-class rider who has become one of the leading figures of the generation.

"I could already see that he had a big engine, but I had no idea that he would one day become one of the very best road racers. He will be in good hands with any coach who will guide Wout. Each coach naturally has his own emphasis, but everyone at Jumbo-Visma follows the same training philosophy. Wout will not suddenly train in a completely different way. That reassures me."

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Lamberts leaves Jumbo-Visma in the direction of BORA - hansgrohe. This is because he will join Primoz Roglic in the move, perhaps the most notable of the entire transfer season. "Throughout my entire career, I have always needed a new challenge," he explains. "I have worked for the largest pharmaceutical companies and each time I have never stayed on board for more than five years."

"I have not worked for as long as at Jumbo-Visma, eight years now, at no other company. I helped write cycling history, in the development of a small 'junk team' into the best cycling team in the world. For me the circle is now complete."