How does the slow start of Wout van Aert start with earlier seasons until 2025?

Was 2025 really so bad for the Belgians? Or do his fans have to be patient? Let's find out.

2025 so far

Van Aert started his campaign in 2025 at the Cyclocross World Championships, where he finished second in his long -time rival Mathieu van der Poel. While a runner -up is not a bad result on paper at a world championship, the way of defeat was worrying.

In contrast to earlier years in which the two neck and neck were, this time Van der Poel separated in front of the streets. Van Aert never took care of the victory, which was a strong contrast to her last cyclocross world championship title in 2023.

His first street race of the year came in mid -February in Clasica Jaen. A breed of wear and intensity, it is a kind of event in which van Aert's endurance and versatility should normally shine. Instead, he fought and ended the 39th place, a result that the eyebrows raised.

After the race, he admitted that he was not in his best form and said: “I'm certainly not bad, but I had the feeling that I wouldn't win.” This was not a direct admission of the bad form, but it indicated that he was far from his top level.

In the hope of improving, van Aert then turned to the Volta AO algarve. This was a step in the right direction, but it was still not in top form. His most remarkable performance came in the time process on the last day, where he second to his team Visma | Was leased a bicycle colleague Jonas Vingegaard.

He also managed to secure third place in point classification. This was an improvement in his Clasica Jaen result, but it was still far from the commanding services that his fans expected.

Then came the opening weekend, the eagerly awaited start of the Belgian cycling season and the beginning of spring classics. Traditionally, these breeds are an important focus for Van Aert because they give an early indication of its shape in front of the monuments. However, his achievements were again expectations last weekend.

He took 11th place at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, a race in which he was a serious candidate in the past, and then a disappointing 75th place in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. After Omloop he admitted: “I just didn't feel good in the race.” This was not the superstar opening weekend that his fans hoped for, and it added the speculation that something was not entirely right.

How compared to previous years in 2025?

These early achievements have led to inevitable questions. After all, in 2025 the year was to be the year in which Van Aert laid down the battles of 2024 and returned to the top of the sport when injuries derailed a large part of his last season and forced to miss Key Races.

This year he sought the tour through Flanders and Paris-Roubaix as his biggest destinations. However, his slow start has led himself to wondering whether he would be at the highest level when these races arrive. But overreact fans overreact?

In order to understand whether this is a matter of concern, it is important to compare Van Aert's start by 2025 with his starts in earlier seasons. If you look back on your previous campaigns, a clear pattern is created.

In 2024 he also slowly started the season and took 10th place in the Clasica de America and 45th in Clasica Jaen. However, his first victory came on the third stage of the Volta Ao Algarve, which was his fifth race of the year. He also started his classic campaign, finished third at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and won Kuurne-Breuel-Kuurne.

This was an important indicator of its shape and ability to fight for great victories later in the spring, and his results of 2025 at Omloop and Kuurne were particularly worse. But he still did not win any races to the right and at the center to start the year.

In 2023, Van Aert had to wait longer for his first victory of the season because his first victory on March 24th came to the E3 Saxo Classic. Previously, he had no victories in Tirreno-Adritico and finished third in Milano-Sanremo. Despite this slow start, he had a strong campaign for spring classics and remained an important candidate throughout the season.

In his 2022 season, contrast to 2025. This year, which is generally considered his best, van Aert started winning omloop het Nieuwsblad, and this victory gave the tone for an incredible campaign that included three stage profits and the Green Jersey. His early dominance in 2022 was a reflection of his best form, and this year serves as a reference point for what Peak van Aert looks like.

In 2021, his season started fourth in Strade Bianche before winning his second race of the year and won on the first stage of Tirreno-Adriatic. This was another example of a relatively quick start, but not as immediate as 2022. In the meantime, in 2020, its form gradually built up. This year he took 11th place at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad before winning his first race of the year at Strade Bianche during the season affected by Covid, and the Belgian won the Milano Sanremo in August.

These comparisons indicate that the form of Van Aert later reached its peak in February or early March. While his 2022 campaign was an exception in which he started quickly, he gradually improved during the season. This ensures that his slow start by 2025 does not necessarily mean that he will fight when the biggest races arrive.

Johan Bruyneel also played down concerns and explained: “There is no reason to take care of Wout van Aert” and predicts that he will reach his top form for the race through Flanders in good time. Van Aert himself expressed confidence that he is on the right track and said: “I also had to throw myself in and enjoy it.” While these statements indicate that there is no panic in his warehouse, fans will still endeavor to recognize improvements in the coming weeks.

Will we see the best of Van Aert in 2025?

Van Aert's main goal for 2025 is to finally win a second monument. His last monument victory came in Milano-Sanremo in 2020 and since then he has had several almost mistakes. This year he focuses strongly on the tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, two races that are currently in the stronghold of his nemesis: Mathieu van der Poel.

If the story is to be done, it is still time for him to reach a maximum of this race. His biggest tests are still standing, and if he can correctly use his shape time, his slow start will soon be forgotten.

While Van Aert's results have not yet encouraged in 2025, the story indicates that this is not necessarily an important problem for him. He has often taken the time to build in its best form, and it is possible that this season will follow a similar trajectory.

However, his fans hope to see signs of improvement soon. If his services do not lose weight in front of the main classics, the concerns about its form will only grow.