"Those young guys are also eager to take over the torch" - Wout van Aert talks Mathieu van der Poel and his quest for monument glory

Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel are two names that will forever be linked in cycling history. Both are truly legendary riders in their own right, sharing similarities while also standing apart in key areas.

Van Aert has found greater success in grand tours, whereas Van der Poel has dominated the monuments recently, winning six compared to Van Aert’s single victory. Their battles in cyclocross have also been superb, but Van der Poel holds the upper hand with seven world titles and has stretched away in recent years, while Van Aert has claimed three.

As the 2025 season approaches, the question is: will this be the year Van Aert finally wins another monument, his first since Milano-Sanremo in 2020? Now 30, time is starting to work against him.

Speaking to WielerFlits, Van Aert reflected on his career achievements and how he hopes to be remembered.

"But what is a palmarès?" the 30-year-old Belgian pondered. "Is that a list with a number of victories on it? Or is that how we remember someone as a cyclist? Of course, victories are part of that. I think there are enough of them in my case."

He continued, "But I also hope that a lot of people remember me as the rider who did things that other riders don’t do. And one of those is probably occasionally sacrificing himself for someone else. That’s who I am. And I’m also very proud of that."

Looking ahead, Van Aert remains optimistic about what’s to come. "In five years’ time, there certainly won’t be much you can do about that," he said with a laugh. "Then that’s how it is. Then I’ll have a lot of great things to look back on.

"But I’m also really looking forward to the years to come, in which I’ll always start with a lot of ambition. And I’m enjoying that more and more, the road to get there."

Despite the growing competition from younger riders, Van Aert still sees potential in himself. "I think that I can definitely still use my potential. So I think that in that sense it is not an issue. Of course it is, when I turn thirty there will be guys of twenty-three, twenty-four ready again. That is increasing every year. Those young guys are also eager to take over the torch. That is of course something else that you have to take into account."

With another season very much in its infancy, the debate over Van Aert and Van der Poel’s careers will likely be a key topic once again. Will Van Aert finally add another major one day victory to his name, or will time and younger competition make it an even greater challenge?