Nathan van Hooydonck on van Aert: "I think Wout does want to go to the Tour, but I wonder if it's the right choice"
Cycling
Up until last year, Nathan van Hooydonck was Wout van Aert's right-hand men, and they also worked towards Team Visma | Lease a Bike's extensive success at the Tour de France. The Dutch team faced plenty problems this year with injuries, but van Hooydonck believes this will ultimately lead van Aert to the Tour de France.
"I've definitely spoken to them. They're doing okay. Wout has just arrived in Tignes, where Jonas is too. They're taking it day by day," van Hooydonck shared with the Rode Lantaarn podcast. "I haven't spoken to Wout since the Tour of Norway, but he might still be feeling some effects. They're going to take it day by day and then make the right choice. Even though they are the highest-paid riders on the team and you expect them to perform, it's still better to use them optimally rather than half-heartedly. I think Wout does want to go to the Tour, but I wonder if it's the right choice. Because, of course, he had planned his schedule around the Olympics."
At the time being, it is very likely that the Belgian is gearing up towards the Tour. Initially, his plan was to fully focus on the cobbled classics, rest and train in altitude ahead of the Giro d'Italia. He would then have another build-up period specifically for the Olympic Games, not made up of the Tour de France but instead some smaller races and altitude training. But his crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen threw a wrench into all of this.
Currently, van Aert has travelled to Tignes, French Alps, where he is training together with Jonas Vingegaard and Christophe Laporte who are also expected to race the Tour. Last year, van Aert was angered by missing out on a stage win, and also left the race early for the birth of his son - and preparation towards the World Championships.
Van Hooydonck believes van Aert will return to France, as he recovers from his injuries together with the Dane. "But that's also how Wout is: he's a really loyal friend to Jonas. If he feels that Jonas needs him, then he'll be there."
"Although I think it can go hand in hand. It will also depend on whether and how Jonas goes to the Tour. If Jonas is in last year's condition, then it's hard for him to ride the Tour with the brakes on."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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