Mixed feelings prevail for Van Aert when asked about his 2024. “It was a season full of ups and downs. Besides some good results and victories, there were of course the two heavy crashes. That kept me off cycling for too long. Fortunately, I have recovered now. I am not quite at my top level yet, but it will be a while before the road season starts.”

The crash in the spring was followed by a long rehabilitation. With the Tour de France in his legs and the bronze medal in the time trial at the Paris Olympics, the Belgian was back at top level in the Vuelta a España. In the descent of the Collada Llomena, things went wrong again. As leader in the points and KOM classification and three stage wins to his name, Van Aert's cycling year came to an early end on the sixteenth day in Spain.

“Actually, I am currently in the same situation as last season. Again I have to fight back after a big crash. In the Vuelta I was back at my old top level, despite the heavy injury in the spring and the difficult period that followed. The good feeling I had again in Spain gives me a lot of confidence that I will return to top level again”, a combative Van Aert says.

The rider already made his comeback in the field earlier this winter. After winning the crosses in Gullegem and Dendermonde, there are still two cyclo-cross races ahead for the Belgian. Afterwards, the eyes will turn to the road and the program for the Team Visma | Lease a Bike leader will look almost the same as how it was planned for 2024. The big goals for Van Aert will not sound like a surprise to anyone. “The Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix are once again circled red in the agenda.”

Niermann and Van Aert dream of victory in holy week of cycling

Before making his appearance in the two cycling monuments, the road season starts early for Van Aert with a number of races, followed by the traditional opening weekend in Belgium. Last season, the rider won Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. “It will be a busy year for me”, Van Aert explains. “After the spring classics, I will leave to Italy and ride the Giro d'Italia, where we will go for stage wins. After the Giro, there will be an altitude training camp on the program to then be fresh at the start of the Tour de France. With Jonas, we will be fighting for a third Tour victory.”

Team Visma | Lease a Bike again focus on Grand Tour success: “Winning the Tour de France remains our biggest goal”

At the end of last cycling year, Van Aert and Team Visma | Lease a Bike expressed their confidence in each other. The rider was rewarded with a contract until the end of his active career with the team. “It's a nice gesture from the team, that they even were thinking about such a contract. This team feels like home. I can get the best out of myself here and we always go for the best results. That will be no different in 2025”, Van Aert concludes.