Van Aert still savoring Paris win, unsure about Worlds
Just four days after his dramatic stage victory on the Champs-Élysées, Wout van Aert is back racing - this time in his hometown of Herentals. Relaxed, slightly tired, and still basking in the glow of Paris, Van Aert is in good spirits. But when it comes to the World Championships in Rwanda, the Belgian star is keeping his cards close to his chest.
“I don’t feel completely fresh,” he admitted to Sporza before the start of the local criterium. “I’ve tried to rest after the Tour, but I did have a few small celebrations.” The images of his Tour stage win, however, continue to echo. “Every time I opened my phone, I saw that finish again. Only then did I realise how special it really was.”
While Van Aert’s season reached its emotional peak in Paris, it might not be over just yet. The UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda are scheduled for late September, but Van Aert has yet to make a decision. “I haven’t thought about it yet,” he said. “That’s something for the coming days and weeks. And no, I haven’t spoken to the national coach - I’ve had enough on my plate just replying to all the messages.”
National coach Serge Pauwels is still holding out hope. Speaking to Sporzaearlier this week, he admitted the chances of Van Aert going are “more likely no than yes,” but he’s not ready to give up. “I want to hear Wout’s decision directly. If, in a week or two, he says he wants to prepare, of course he’s welcome. But preparing for Rwanda requires full commitment - with the altitude and heat, it’s not a race you can just wing.”
Pauwels doesn’t dismiss Van Aert’s chances on the Rwandan course, even with its altitude and demanding profile. “The road race takes place above 1,400 metres and includes a tough circuit with climbs reminiscent of the Cauberg and Montmartre,” he explained. “That extra loop toward Mount Kigali is particularly hard, although it comes 100 kilometres before the finish.”
Despite the difficulty, Pauwels believes the course could suit Van Aert – provided he’s at full strength. “Yes, I think he has a chance,” he said. “It’s a hard course, but not impossible for Wout.”
Van Aert, for now, keeps things light. “A Worlds is always beautiful, but it has to make sense. These are tough questions,” he said with a grin. For now, he’s happy to enjoy the afterglow of Paris and the familiar roads of Herentals. Whether Rwanda will follow is something for later.
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