Wout van Aert struck by illness again before trip to Canada for end of season Classics: “I didn’t feel great but last week I got in some solid training"

Wout van Aert has confirmed he will line up for the Canadian World Tour one-day races in Québec and Montréal this weekend, despite suffering another bout of illness following the recent Deutschland Tour.

The Belgian admitted his run-in to the final races of the season has been far from smooth, but says he’s regained momentum in training and is motivated to end his 2025 campaign on a positive note.

“I didn’t feel great after the Tour of Germany,” Van Aert told VTM/Het Laatste Nieuws at the annual derny criterium in Wetteren, just days before his transatlantic trip. “That’s why we decided to skip the Bretagne Classic in Plouay. But last week I got in some solid training again. I’m motivated to go for a good result in Canada – especially in Québec.”

The 30-year-old Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider is sadly no stranger to setbacks. His 2025 campaign has been disrupted by crashes, inconsistency, and ill-timed illness — the latter surfacing again just as he looked to build on a promising ride at the Deutschland Tour, where he showed signs of returning to top form.

“In Hamburg and Germany, I realised that I only really enjoy racing when I’m riding at a certain level,” Van Aert said. “If I’m not strong enough to fight for the win, it’s just not enjoyable. But during the Tour of Germany, things were heading in the right direction and I started to have fun on the bike again.”

Canada will mark Van Aert’s final international trip of the season, with the Super 8 Classic on home soil rounding off his 2025 road campaign. While the major targets of the year are now behind him, the Belgian is still intent on finishing strong — if his body allows.

“The goal is to close out the season in a good way,” he said. “Of course, the most important races have already been ridden, but that doesn’t mean these ones don’t matter.”

The Canadian races — set for 12 and 14 September — offer a final showcase for the classics specialists before the long off-season begins. For Van Aert, who has faced both physical and mental fatigue this year, they represent a final test of resilience. “It’s still unclear when I’ll race again after the Super 8,” he added. “Being able to fully relax for a while is important too.”

As always, Van Aert will attract attention simply by pinning on a number. But whether his legs will allow one final flourish remains to be seen.