"I only remember bits of it" - Wout Van Aert's wife recalls the many traumatic crashes of her husband
CyclingTuesday, 14 July 2026 at 01:00
Wout Van Aert has not had a smooth career up until this point. Several crashes and injuries have derailed his career, but ultimately 2026 has brought about a breakthrough with a cobbled Monument - the 2026 Paris-Roubaix. Finally, on fourteenth attempt and after three prior podium finishes.
Through all the ups and downs, Van Aert's wife Sarah de Bie stood by his side. Now in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, the Belgian woman spoke about being Van Aert's wife, on crashes, death and public life.
"Elite sports is a tough world where you’re constantly held to the highest standards, and half of Flanders has an opinion about you or wants something from you. Wout has taught me to put things into perspective - especially reactions on social media - but I’m still a sensitive person," she opens up.
"It might not seem that way, because I can be tough and straightforward. Aside from Wout and the kids, I almost never hug people, but that’s precisely because I’ve learned to shield my emotions over the years. But don’t get me wrong: we have a wonderful life - one I never would have dared to dream of as a teenager," she adds.
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Remember all those crashes
Even though Van Aert has claimed many high-profile victories throughout his career - including three cyclocross world titles - what is often remembered more in relation to his name are the many serious crashes. And that's also something which sticks with De Bie.
"It's not always easy to deal with. When Wout crashed in Dwars door Vlaanderen in 2024 and again five months later in the Vuelta, that was the hardest period of his career for me. It was one crash too many. He had a real shot at the green jersey, so he went from a high point to a complete standstill all of a sudden. Physically, he couldn’t do anything for a while, so he was kind of like a third child in the house."
Wout Van Aert has to abandon the 2024 Vuelta a Espana with a knee injury
The crash which almost ended Van Aert's career before it even begun
There’s one moment his wife will never forget either: the crash during the time trial in Pau in 2019, when Van Aert sliced his leg open on a crowd barrier.
"I wanted to go straight to Wout, but I couldn’t. Fortunately, two or three days later, I was allowed to ride along from the local hospital to AZ Herentals. There, Dr. Toon Claes saw that my health had also suffered from the shock, so he said, 'We’re going to keep you here for a while.' I did indeed stay overnight."
"I realise now that that fall in Pau was traumatic, because I only remember bits and pieces of it. The same goes for the death of my grandmother - Dad’s mom - in 2014. Our lives seem to be moving at such a fast pace that I can’t really take the time to reflect on many things," said De Bie.
"What really hit me hard recently was the death of Robert Gesink’s wife (a former Dutch cyclist, ed.) last year. Seeing how that always-smiling Daisy fell ill and passed away in just a few months taught me to enjoy life more - for example, moments with Georges and Jérôme - even if, with all their energy, I sometimes feel like I could tear my hair out," she concludes.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses 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.
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