"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
Cycling
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?
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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