Wout
van Aert
Belgium
·
Cycling
Date of birth | 15 September 1994 |
|---|---|
Place of birth | Herentals, Belgium |
Age | 31 |
Nationality | Belgium |
Career start | 2011 |
Disciplines | Road Cycling / Track Cycling / Cyclocross |
Wout van Aert – winner of the 2026 Paris–Roubaix in thrilling style – first made a name for himself during the 2011-12 season, when he won the junior race at the Cyclo-cross Ruddervoorde in his native Belgium.
Having turned pro in 2013, van Aert started the 2014-15 season as a Junior, but soon found himself in the Elite category. He surprised friends and foes alike by defeating Sven Nys at Koppenbergcross, finishing the season with 12 more wins.
Belgian and World Championship success
In January 2016, he became the Belgian champion for the first time, before going on to win 18 times the following season and retain his Belgian and World Championship titles. In 2018, van Aert became Belgian champion for the third time and finished second in the Cyclo-cross World Championships in 2019.
Van Aert soon turned his attention increasingly to the road. At the 2019 Tour de France he announced himself immediately by winning Stage 10 on his race debut. A heavy crash later in the race caused a serious thigh and hip injury, but he recovered to return to the highest level and finished fourth at the 2020 Cyclo-cross World Championships.
The rescheduled 2020 season highlighted his remarkable versatility. At the Tour de France he won Stages 5 and 7, while also taking victories at Strade Bianche, Milan–Sanremo, the Belgian time trial championships and stages at both the Tour and the Critérium du Dauphiné.
Winning at UCI Cyclocross World Cup and silver medal in Beijing road race
In January 2021, he sealed the overall UCI Cyclocross World Cup series title with a second race win of the season in Overijse, Belgium. Later in the year, he secured a silver medal in Beijing in the road race.
2022 was another successful year, with van Aert winning numerous road races at the start of the year. He then excelled at the Tour de France, winning three stages, topping the Points Classification category and earning the Most Combative Rider award.
More success followed in 2023, as van Aert reigned supreme at the Tour of Britain and scored podium places at the UCI Road World Championships, the UCI Cyclocross World Cup and the iconic Paris-Roubaix event, proving once again that this rider keeps improving with every season.
Continuing impact in the Grand Tours
Van Aert kicked off Tour de France 2024 with a third-place spot on the podium after the first stage, before winning a bronze medal at the Paris Games.
In 2025, he made his Giro d’Italia debut, adding another Grand Tour to his ever-growing list of accomplishments. The Belgian delivered a commanding performance in support of team-mate Simon Yates, whose overall victory was shaped in part by van Aert’s efforts in the mountains.
He carried this form through to the summer to complete another Tour de France, claiming his 10th career stage win with victory on the final leg into Paris.
Like many riders at the top of the sport, van Aert’s record has also been defined by resilience. After battling through injuries earlier in his career, he faced another major setback in 2026 when a cyclo-cross crash left him with a fractured ankle. A series of unfortunate circumstances - including a puncture from glass on the road - then beset his path to full fitness, but his return to the peloton once again demonstrated the determination that has characterised his career.
Conquering Paris-Roubaix
In April, 2026 van Aert finally triumphed in the race that had eluded him for years. Following a series of punctures, near-misses and crashes in previous appearances at the cobbled classic, he overcame rival Tadej Pogačar in a two-man sprint at the Roubaix velodrome. After moving ahead in the final 200m and crossing the line to secure victory, he said, "I was unlucky in this race, but it brought me experience. Even today, when luck was not on my side, I kept believing in it. Finally, the reward is there."
It was the crowning moment of van Aert's spring, but it will not be followed by a Tour de France campaign. A recent injury has ruled the Belgian out of this year's race, denying him the opportunity to carry his Paris-Roubaix form onto cycling's biggest stage.
Wout van Aert takes the win at Paris-Roubaix
© Dario Belingheri/Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Wout van Aert put in another strong performance
© Dario Belingheri/Getty Images
Wout van Aert wins in Paris
© Kristof Ramon/Red Bull Content Pool
Van Aert is also one off the world's best time trialers
© Kristof Ramon/Red Bull Content Pool