Wout van Aert looks back on injuries in 2024 – “It's hard to see that you're cycling for fun”

Wout van Aert secured a thrilling victory at the Superprestige Gullegem Cross on Saturday afternoon, overcoming Belgian national champion Eli Iserbyt in a gripping battle. The win marked a high point in what has been a challenging period for the Belgian superstar, who opened up about his tumultuous 2024 in an interview with NRC.

Van Aert's season was plagued by two serious crashes and resulting injuries that disrupted his training and performances. Reflecting on the difficulties he faced, he shared:

"In the spring, after my crash, I kept having problems with my ribs. At one point, I was able to train for three or four hours again. I didn't have any problems while cycling, but afterwards I would be completely cramped up in my seat again. At those moments, it's hard to see that you're cycling for fun."

Despite the setbacks, the Team Visma | Lease a Bike found solace in returning to training and competition, rediscovering his identity as an athlete. "The first time back at training camp, the first time participating in a race, working towards the Tour de France. That's how I started to feel like an athlete again, that's what I missed the most. But you have to be patient in that, and I didn't always find that easy."

The prolonged absence from his usual routine took a toll on Van Aert’s mental well-being. "I am so used to doing a lot of sports, and suddenly all the endorphins that are released were gone. Without that vital feeling, I quickly became unhappy. It is strange to realize, but I was missing a part of my identity. It was a kind of illusion that I struggled with: I wanted nothing more than to cycle, but when I was finally allowed to do that, it was a huge disappointment."

The challenges of 2024 also left Van Aert feeling uncertain about his career trajectory. He admitted to doubting whether his team would extend his contract after his disappointing performances and additional injuries.

"I felt like I hadn't been able to show what I'm capable of in 2023 and I didn't expect that we would talk about a contract extension in the spring. And when those talks had just started, I fell. I thought: then it won't happen anymore. The fact that such an offer came from the team helped me enormously. It gave me peace and confidence."

Looking ahead, Van Aert is determined to regain his form and achieve success in 2025, though he acknowledged the mental hurdles he still faces. "I hope that I will succeed if I start achieving good results again in 2025. But I feel like I have been mentally stagnant for a long time."

He also highlighted the psychological impact of crashes and the challenge of regaining trust in the peloton. "Sometimes crashing has to do with trust, and it doesn't help if you've been knocked to the ground at 70 kilometers per hour and then have to cycle back into the peloton among the same crazy people. As a team, we are now looking at whether we can do something about that."