“The stage wins in Siena and Paris really made my year” – Wout van Aert closes season at Super 8 Classic
Cycling
Wout van Aert drew the curtain on his season at the Super 8
Classic in Belgium, finishing outside the sprint for victory as Lotto’s Arnaud
De Lie powered to another win. The young Belgian continued his September form,
outsprinting Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s Matthew Brennan and Bora’s Jordi
Meeus. For Van Aert, who had been part of the day’s key move with Brennan and
Christophe Laporte, the finale marked a closing chapter on a season of highs
and near misses.
“With a slightly better version of myself and my teammates,
we could have played a bit more,” said Van Aert to HLN. Visma Lease a Bike had
opened the race with 80 kilometers to go, and for a moment looked in control
with three riders in the front group. But Laporte was forced to abandon,
leaving Van Aert and Brennan to respond to the attacks.
“We had hoped to postpone the Brennan card a bit. But the
decision was quickly made. Things were going better for me than during the
races in Canada, but I wasn't confident that if I got to the front with
someone, I'd be able to finish it. I really enjoyed trying to keep things
together.”
The Belgian reflected on his campaign, shaped by key wins
and setbacks in the spring. “The stage wins in Siena and Paris really made my
year. There were also some down times, where I missed opportunities. Now it's
time for a vacation. But without a bike. They'll be happy about that back home.
Now I can really be a dad.”
In the sprint for victory, Tudor’s Matteo Trentin was led
out but overpowered by De Lie, who claimed his second major win in the space of
a week. Brennan had to settle for second, but afterward expressed pride in both
the team’s tactics and the support he received from senior riders.
“It was a hectic finale,” Brennan said in a team statement.
“In the final kilometer there was really no control. I tried to follow Arnaud,
because I knew he was the strongest sprinter in the group. Unfortunately, I
didn’t have enough left to come past him in the end. He is the rightful
winner.”
He also paid tribute to his teammates’ efforts. “I enjoy
racing in the Flemish classics. The team worked excellently all day, and in the
finale Wout supported me fantastically. It’s special that such great riders
believe in me. Without their help, I probably wouldn’t have been on the podium
today.”
Read also
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as 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. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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