"You need to know each other in and out" - Wout Van Aert's agent reacts to another "lifelong" contract
Cycling
The second "lifelong" contract in cycling world has been announced earlier this week with Mads Pedersen set to wear the Lidl-Trek jersey for the rest of his career. It's not hard to imagine where did the inspiration come from...
"We didn't think we would become a trendsetter," smiles Wout Van Aert's agent/manager Jef Van den Bosch at Sporza. "Our contract was unique, but I didn't think it would be copied in such a short time. We do see that our contract extension has made other teams think. And that the riders are also prepared to go along with this."
It's quite obvious that both parties must be interested in such a deal. "It is a story that always matures on both sides. You grow together towards something like this, although it will only apply to a limited number of riders."
Pedersen and Van Aert are both top riders with impressive track record and long history with their current teams. "Their story is similar, yes. Of course, these are riders who already have a higher salary and have a track record."
Stability is the key word. "There will always be or have been better financial opportunities, but the stability is worth more to them than opting resolutely for the money," Van den Bosch recognizes. "Otherwise they would have done that much earlier in their career."
And what's there for the teams themselves in such deal? Van den Bosch explains the importance of such contracts when searching for new investors. "It is clear who the leader and the figurehead is. As a team you can then communicate clearly to your partners and sponsors, because they are also asking themselves that question. There is no more uncertainty."
"At Visma | Lease a Bike, Rabobank has been brought back on board and a rider like Wout van Aert has given his commitment," he lists the assets of the Dutch team. "Don't forget that he is more than a rider. Wout is a personality in all areas. He transcends cycling."
But aren't there pitfalls in such a marriage? "Of course, but I am convinced that such a contract is only negotiable if the rider and the team know each other inside and out. You have to be a child of the house, because trust is essential. When you have been through almost everything together, you know what you have in each other and you make such a decision. The match has to be perfect."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses 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.
claps 2visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I see (elsewhere) that Alaphilippe had more to say than what got relayed in this stub. Me: he was very good early but his latter third trajectory was the pits. His old boss did what he could (huffed and puffed) but Julian couldn't get his greatness back. Sometimes I wonder if crashes that didn't look like much changed the course of the rider.flyer14-11-2026
- I wouldn't classify it as a gift because the nasty consequences of taking it from Sepp would have been great and would persist and he knew it.flyer14-11-2026
- Ok. Tratnik's good and Red Bull's better so Tratnik may get what he wants.flyer14-11-2026
- Ok. So just saying he wasn't enjoying racing anymore is some kind of explanation? Me saying I don't enjoy his explanation is more explaining than he did.flyer14-11-2026
- Buitrago, was he their best rider in 2026? He's the chief loss for them and Martinez and Tiberi (especially) have to step up or they will be overtaken by Bahrain's younger riders like Omrzel. I'm still somewhat high on Martinez but Tiberi, after showing signs of promise, has fizzled. Bahrain still has a good team but they need to improve and exceed expectations. I'd be happy if Mohoric could manage to return to his better form for maybe one last year at least.flyer14-11-2026
- Hmmm, "... I just gained 30 seconds purely off the bike. Because it's really a big, big improvement compared to the previous bike". Is that marketing for Specialized or serious valid hype, or something in between? Very likely the former.flyer14-11-2026
- Nothing revelatory or controversial. Why do we have to report on Bruyneel's or Armstrong's thinking. It's a shame and enough that the Move's on TV and that people watch it .flyer14-11-2026
- Makes sense that training from home is a big asset or advantage but it's still remarkable that he can put in three quality majors and not pay some heavy price for the exertion. I wish he would have won that tour stage that his crash while leading allowed Carapaz the win. He's a darn good rider and teammate.flyer14-11-2026
- Sounds like we all agree with the over under exaggeration: "The German’s signing does not guarantee that Evenepoel will win the Tour in 2027. "flyer14-11-2026
- Seixas appears to be that good but if he isn't (an absolute rival to Pogacar) he would have plenty of company in rising stars that did not go on to fully meet the expectations of many. That Pogacar wasn't the greatest (as great) sooner can't be transposed onto another's development. It may be not that simple.flyer14-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment