"For me it is really a surprise that I can do this" - Wout van Aert delighted by first victory of the winter in Gullegem

Wout van Aert has taken his first victory since the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, emerging on top at Superprestige Gullegem Cross this Saturday afternoon in Belgium. After a thrilling battle with Eli Iserbyt, Van Aert triumphed, giving his son Georges a brilliant 4th birthday present.

After a tightly fought opening few laps, Van Aert and Iserbyt began to draw clear of the rest of the pack heading towards the final couple of laps, getting involved in a two-man battle for victory. As they continued to trade the lead with the finish line nearing, it looked like ending in a sprint finish, before the pressure from Van Aert finally told and Iserbyt made a crucial error and lost the back wheel of the Visma star.

“I had to dig deep. The first two or three laps I always felt like I had some left,” Van Aert reflected in his post-race interview. “When I rode through the first time, Michael Vanthourenhout, Eli and Joran Wyseure were still quite close. Then I focused on the final. The last two laps I just tried to smother Eli.”

"I didn’t start with the expectation that I would be able to beat those guys. It already felt really good that I was at the front of the race. On a course like that, with so many bends, it’s hard to get rid of Eli. I even had the feeling that I had dropped him once, but I just didn’t see him riding behind me. He can hide well,” Van Aert continued. “Of course. I really started this winter without expectations. I say it every time, but it seems hard for people to believe. Because they are used to me always competing to win. For me it is really a surprise that I can do this already. 2025 has started and it feels really good.”