Van Aert opens up on mental scars of 2024 crashes - 'I didn't dare throw myself in'

Wout van Aert has revealed how his approach to racing fundamentally changed following multiple serious crashes in 2024, before bouncing back with stage wins at the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France this season. 

"I didn't dare to throw myself in, and I was torn between being happy that I didn't crash, yet frustrated because I wasn't in position," Van Aert said to Het Nieuwsblad about his spring campaign. "I found that just riding along didn't make me happy."

Van Aert acknowledged that his positioning issues stemmed not just from physical levels but mental hesitation in the moments that are so crucial during the Classics in particular. 

"Maybe I tried to force it too much, because I already felt it was an issue during the winter," he explained. "The most important step was perhaps acknowledging that I might no longer take the biggest risks and sometimes brake faster, without associating it with anything negative."

The most difficult moment in the 2024 season came at the Dwars door Vlaanderen, the race where Van Aert was involved in a serious crash, which left him with a broken collarbone and several broken ribs, and played a major role in his mental hesitation when it came to positioning in future races.

Upon his return to the race this season, Van Aert lost the sprint finish against Neilson Powless despite having two Visma | Lease a Bike teammates, Tiesj Benoot and Matteo Jorgenson, in the group of four.

"I was extremely disappointed in myself because I wasn't true to who I am when I made that choice to sprint. I was too eager to win there and was afraid that one of my teammates would steal my chance," Van Aert admitted.

However, the team's supportive reaction helped him move forward. "It helped me enormously that I didn't sense any frustration or anger towards me from anyone. They thought it was a logical progression and were also disappointed before."

A turning point came in May when Van Aert claimed an emotional victory on the gravel roads to Siena on stage 9 of the Giro d’Italia, a very significant win with what it represented for the Belgian.

"There aren't many victories that come close to that feeling. I get goosebumps just talking about it," said Van Aert. "No one needs to know, but it was a difficult period that finally turned into something positive."

The 31-year-old’s second highlight came when he soloed to victory on the final stage of the Tour de France, distancing the yellow jersey Tadej Pogačar on the slopes of Montmartre.

"I assumed Pogačar wouldn't contest the final because the weather was bad and the times would be neutralised," Van Aert recalled with a laugh. "I still remember the moment I saw Pogačar next to me on Montmartre, and it felt like a setback that he would be competing."

“Looking back, I'm incredibly happy he participated. It gave that victory so much more cachet,” Van Aert added.

Whilst 2025 was Van Aert’s leanest season in terms of victories since 2018, the Belgian cherishes the significance of these two wins and insists he has found a healthier perspective on racing. "I now know for sure that racing for me is about reaching my highest level and giving it my all,” said Van Aert. “There are fewer victories now, but I realise more how special they are.”

Looking ahead, Van Aert maintains ambitious goals, particularly targeting the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, monuments that have thus far eluded him, having finished runner-up at each, respectively.

"If I can't believe I can win the Tour of Flanders, then perhaps only three riders in the world should still believe I can," said Van Aert. "It will be very difficult to win the Ronde, and the same goes for Roubaix, but it remains a logical career goal for me."

Van Aert also confirmed plans to return to Strade Bianche in 2026, a race closely connected to his emotional Giro triumph in Siena.