"They deserved at least a podium" - Wout van Aert disappointed by not delivering podium result for Jumbo-Visma
Cycling
Wout van Aert was seeking victory at the Tour of Flanders. His plans weren't successful on what was a dramatic and incredibly difficult day. The Jumbo-Visma rider finished fourth and was disappointed with the outcome of the race.
“The race went well for our team for a long time. Nathan Van Hooydonck was part of a dangerous group and we shouldn't ride like that at the front and back. But it went hand-to-hand a little faster than we had hoped. Pogacar and Van der Poel turned out to be stronger then”, van Aert said in a post-race interview. The team had riders involved in crashes early on, but it wasn't a meaningful hit for their chances.
Nathan van Hooydonck followed the early attack of a strong group that went up the road and allowed for the Dutch team to save their cards for later. Tiesj Benoot wasn't active on the day, but both Wout van Aert and Christophe Laporte managed to respond. Only van Aert did when Pogacar attacked at the Koppenberg, and he himself cracked when van der Poel accelerated at the Kruisberg.
"I was a bit surprised by Mathieu van der Poel's bomb," van Aert recalls that moment. "Perhaps my mind was already too preoccupied with what was yet to come. But the legs have spoken. If I couldn't keep up with that, I wouldn't be able to follow on the Oude Kwaremont either.” The Belgian accepts his performance, which was not enough to take the triumph this afternoon.
After what seemed to be the end of his podium aspirations, the help of van Hooydonck who had been in front was crucial. Van Aert was able to sustain a high pace and caught up with the chasing group just after the Paterberg, and re-entered the fight for the podium. From there it came down to a sprint, as he crossed the line in fourth, just behind Mads Pedersen.
Jumbo-Visma had dominated the cobbled classics until today, but were defeated in their own game. “They deserved at least a podium. Tomorrow I will turn the page and focus on Roubaix. I'm not going to hide in a corner, next week I'll throw myself again," van Aert concluded.
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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.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
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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leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
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parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
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🇧🇪 #RVV23 Wout is a fighter. ⚔️
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