Wout van Aert: The Modern Great Who Proves That Winning Isn’t Everything
When cycling fans look at the 2025 season, one curious statistic stands out: Wout van Aert, the Belgian superstar, has only one official victory to his name. For a rider of his caliber, accustomed to conquering monuments, time trials, and sprint finishes, that number seems almost underwhelming on paper. Yet, anyone who has followed the season closely knows the truth—Van Aert remains one of the finest and most complete bike riders in the world. His dominance, consistency, and sheer presence in races remind us that greatness cannot always be measured by the length of a palmarès.
The Paradox of Wout van Aert’s 2025 Season
In today’s results-driven sporting culture, fans and pundits alike often equate greatness with victory counts. For Van Aert, this season has been a paradox. While the official tally reads just a single win, his performances across spring classics, stage races, and grand tours underline a rider who influences races in ways no statistic can capture.
From the cobbles of Flanders to the high peaks of the Alps, Van Aert has been a constant force. Whether setting the tempo for his teammates at Visma–Lease a Bike, launching daring long-range attacks, or fighting for podiums, he has consistently shaped the narrative of every race he entered. Rivals acknowledge his power, fans adore his versatility, and teammates rely on his selflessness. In cycling, winning is important—but shaping the race itself is a higher form of artistry, and Van Aert has mastered it.
Consistency on Every Terrain
What makes Van Aert special is his ability to excel in multiple terrains and formats. He is, without exaggeration, one of the most versatile riders in modern cycling. Few athletes in the peloton can claim to dominate time trials, sprints, cobbled classics, and mountainous stages alike.
- In the Classics, he has once again proven his worth, always present in the decisive moves. Though luck and tactics sometimes denied him top honors, his podium finishes reflect his consistency against the best in the world.
- On the Grand Tour stage, he has played a crucial role as both a domestique and a contender. His ability to shepherd leaders like Jonas Vingegaard while still hunting personal opportunities illustrates his rare mix of selflessness and ambition.
- Against the clock, his time trial form remains among the finest, showing his raw power and aerodynamic precision.
Cycling experts argue that Van Aert’s season is a testament to something rare in sport: a rider who doesn’t measure his worth solely by victories but by his influence on the outcome.
The Selfless Superstar
One of the recurring themes of Van Aert’s career has been his willingness to sacrifice personal glory for the success of his team. Many times this year, he has chosen to bury himself on the front of the peloton, chasing down breakaways or setting up teammates for stage wins. It is this unselfishness that elevates him from being just another talented rider to a true leader and team player.
Fans often recall the 2022 and 2023 Tours de France, where Van Aert’s efforts for Vingegaard were instrumental in securing overall victories. This year, the pattern continued—he was often the glue holding the Visma–Lease a Bike strategy together. His single victory may not reflect the sacrifices made, but his fingerprints are all over his team’s successes.
The Respect of the Peloton
Cycling is not just about statistics—it is also about respect. Van Aert commands universal admiration from his rivals. Riders know that if Wout is in the race, it will be harder, faster, and more unpredictable. His sheer ability to attack on climbs, outsprint specialists, and recover quickly makes him one of the most feared competitors.
More than that, his sportsmanship has set him apart. He is the kind of rider who competes fiercely but respects the unwritten rules of the sport. That reputation has made him not just a Belgian hero but an international figure admired across cycling communities.
Why Winning Isn’t Everything
There is a temptation to compare Van Aert with other legends of the sport purely on victory counts. But history will remember him differently. Much like riders of the past who redefined their era through style, versatility, and influence, Van Aert is shaping modern cycling culture.
Fans flock to races not only to see who wins but also to see what Wout will do—will he launch a daring solo attack? Will he dominate a sprint finish? Will he sacrifice his own shot at glory to secure a teammate’s success? These questions bring excitement, unpredictability, and drama to cycling, and Van Aert is often at the heart of it.
Looking Ahead
At just 30 years old, Van Aert still has many seasons ahead of him. His single win this year might be an anomaly, a statistical footnote in a career otherwise filled with success. Yet, if his current trajectory continues, it will only further cement the argument that Wout van Aert’s greatness is not tied to numbers but to the enduring impact he has on races and the sport as a whole.
There is every chance that future seasons will see him return to his winning ways, adding more monuments and Grand Tour stages to his record. But even if the victories come less frequently, the legend of Wout van Aert has already been written. He is a rider who redefines what it means to be a champion—not just by lifting his arms in victory but by elevating the sport every time he gets on a bike.
Conclusion
In cycling, victories are celebrated, but legends are defined by more than results. Wout van Aert’s 2025 season is proof that numbers don’t always tell the full story. With one victory on paper but countless displays of power, versatility, and selflessness, he remains one of the greatest riders of his generation.
For fans, the message is clear: greatness is not just about how many times a rider crosses the finish line first—it’s about how profoundly they shape the race. And in that regard, Wout van Aert stands peerless.
