"Whether he wins or loses, he will always be on the front page” - Michel Wuyts suggests Wout van Aert is 'too popular' for his own good

Although Wout van Aert wasn't able to massively feature in the finale of either Omloop Het Nieuwsblad or Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne on Opening Weekend, the Belgian superstar of Team Visma | Lease a Bike continues to be one of the most talked about riders following the action. According to the experienced Belgian cycling expert Michel Wuyts, Van Aert might be too popular for his own good.

On the latest episode of the Wuyts & Vlaeminck podcast, the topic of Van Aert's quiet start to the 2025 road season was approached. In eight race days so far this year, Van Aert has a 2nd place from the Volta ao Algarve time trial, but not much else to shout about. Nevertheless, the 30-year-old remains on of the riders most hyped ahead of any race where he starts, bringing big support but also big pressure.

"Since the Cyclocross World Championships, something he does has been magnified every day," notes former Belgian national coach Sven Vanthourenhout. "You would think that Wout would be used to that by now and that he could handle it, but the tension is still building towards that opening weekend. And if you don't fully meet expectations, that can weigh on you."

“He is too popular,” Wuyts nods in agreement, recalling a notable example of the immense attention Van Aert receives, especially in Belgium. “I still remember what I experienced last year on the starting podium of the E3 Saxo Classic. Mathieu van der Poel got a deafening applause, but with Van Aert it was a times five. I am also convinced that he will get a bigger applause than Remco Evenepoel. He is by far the most popular.”

“Van Aert is a star, but also an underdog. He is two in one, and he has to deal with that," adds Wuyts in conclusion. "I asked him on stage: 'Does that stimulate you to give even more of yourself or is it the other way around?' He said that I should not ask him that question at that moment. He is struggling with that, isn't he? He is approached as a demigod. Whether he wins or loses, he will always be on the first cycling page.”