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?