Wout Van Aert arranged a video message as wedding gift for his friend: "Me, my father and also my uncles are huge Springsteen fans"
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Wout Van Aert is one of the most famous cyclists of the present. And so it's no surprise he's also the one with one of the highest salaries. However despite his star status, he doesn't forget his friends. So, from time to time he gets his loved ones a gift. But rather than speding lots, his presents are rather small or well-thought, his friend tells Knack.
Andreas Buts, friend of Van Aert, says that his partner hands out all kinds of rare small items to his buddies. "For example, after the podium ceremony of the E3 prize, we once received a bottle of Kwaremont beer, one of those large ones. We had to drink it very quickly, otherwise it would be prey for others who wanted it," Buts says jokingly.
Another special gift was not so much a relic from a race or an expensive watch. Buts got married and Van Aert arranged a video message from Bruce Springsteen, the famous American singer. "Me, my father and also my uncles are huge Springsteen fans. And Wout now too," he laughs.
The girlfriend of Van Aert's caregiver is a professional horse caregiver and she knew Jessica Springsteen, Bruce's daughter. "He had left a message of congratulations." The images were shown on a large screen at the wedding. "We were astounded. Some attendees almost started crying. He couldn't have given a better gift."
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.
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Brucegel15-11-2026 - You are interested in Pogi for one reason only, you feel like you are somehow related because you share some vague geographical identity. Other than that you have very little interest in cycling as all your posts show, if it can’t be connected to Pogi you have nothing to post. That said, recent activity here shows we are attracting quite a crowd from his region.Jumpyjohn15-11-2026
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