Inside Wout van Aert's unique gift to every one of Visma | Lease a Bike's 250 staff after Paris Roubaix glory - "Such a gesture is worth more than a bonus"
Cycling
Wout van Aert's Paris-Roubaix triumph touched cycling fans the world over as the Visma | Lease a Bike rider's crowning achievement culminated on the mighty cobbles following a near decade-long journey and several near misses with the legendary monument race.
The Belgian finally got over the line first in April in an emotional moment for rider, team and fans as the victory transcended just sporting success. And after his triumph, Visma moved mountains to celebrate as flights were changed and hotel rooms booked for Van Aert's victory celebration.
His coach Mathieu Heijboer described the feeling amongst those close to the 32-year-old following the victory as Richard Plugge, Grischa Niermann and Nathan Van Hooydonck were among the Visma staff present in the iconic velodrome.
"In the center, time seemed to stand still. I found the joy of Wout and his family beautiful to see. And the hug afterwards also meant a lot to me," Heijboer told Wielerrevue.
"For me and the rest of the team, it was also a kind of life's work to one day win Paris-Roubaix. Wonderful to be able to celebrate it with Grischa, Richard Plugge, Jasper Saeijs, and Nathan Van Hooydonck…"
Wout Van Aert
Celebrations after Van Aert's Paris Roubaix glory
Heijboer revealed that he and Niermann called Merijn Zeeman during the initial celebrations, a former sports director with Visma until 2024 before leaving to join AZ Alkmaar football team.
"Grischa and I sent a photo to Merijn Zeeman and even called him very briefly. To us, that felt normal, because Merijn was also part of the journey we took to the victory in Paris-Roubaix.
"As far as I'm concerned, the feeling in the infield was comparable to Jonas Vingegaard's first Tour de France victory. Perhaps it was even more special, because the entire cycling world was so happy for Wout."
Van Aert himself took a generous extra step, ensuring that every employee of the team were sent a mini-cobblestone - originals from Northern France. The touching tribute is one that was very much appreciated by staff, according to Heijboer.
"They were so happy with that gift from him"
"You can't imagine that beforehand. We were with a group of soigneurs, mechanics, and team managers, and everyone wanted to have their picture taken with Wout individually.
"They were so happy with that gift from him. It is who Wout is. He has an eye for everyone on the team. In my eyes, such a gesture is worth more than a bonus or throwing a party. Those mini-cobblestones are an eternal memory of a very special day.”
Read also
Heading into the 2027 season, Van Aert has made it clear that the experience of winning Paris-Roubaix motivates him to continue his chase of another major career goal in the Tour of Flanders.
While many of the Paris-Roubaix protagonists also target the Flemish showpiece, Van Aert has finished fourth place in his last three participations and has finished inside the top ten in six of his seven participations.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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