Amateur cyclists find solace in Wout van Aert’s Strava ride, with its surprising and relatable struggles
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Follow us on GoogleWout van Aert didn't really enjoy his training on Thursday. The Belgian rider from Visma | Lease a Bike logged an incredible number of kilometres throughout the year, but during and after the offseason, even a pro cyclist's sit bones need some time to readjust to the daily hours in the saddle.
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Van Aert will ride in cyclocross at some point this winter
Wout van Aert's training ride left him sore in all the wrong places
According to his Strava profile, Van Aert rode 63.68 kilometers on Thursday. He was on his bike for just over two hours, starting and finishing in Knokke. Along the way, he passed through Bruges and rode along the coastline toward Blankenberge, in western Belgium.
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And it was precisely that stretch of road to Blankenberge that made for a few uncomfortable kilometers for Van Aert. “Not all chamois pads are created equal,” he wrote about his ride, after what was apparently a rough ride on his backside.
Continue reading below the Strava file
Van Aert's fans leave bizarre suggestions: 'put a steak on it'
The people who follow Van Aert on Strava also saw the post, and there was a striking amount of recognition in the comments. “It’s a truth as plain as day,” someone joked. “Yeah, really! My a*se!,” laughed someone else.
Still, there were also some more serious comments, particularly about the first section where Van Aert rode near Blankenberge. “Rickety bike path,” one comment reads, and: “The bike path there is terrible—and that’s in Blankenberge.”
In short: we probably won’t be seeing Van Aert cycling along the Blankenberge coast anytime soon, even though the Belgian himself claims it’s just a matter of getting used to it. Surprising, since as the winner of Paris-Roubaix, his rear end should be somewhat accustomed to it by 2026.
Hilariously, he also received some unsolicited advice for his saddle soreness. Suggestions like “put a steak on it” and “butt ointment is the solution” came up. Or, as another Flemish person puts it: “Just go for a nice gravel ride in Zeeland Flanders.”
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Clarice WebsterEditor
Clarice has been following cycling her whole life, wroting about Thibaut Pinot (among others) for her university magazine while earning her masters in Journalism. She is passionate about furthering equality in sports coverage, and has taken huge inspiration from pillars of women’s cycling like Beryl Burton, Marianne Vos, and Laura Kenny.
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Latest Comments
- I’m still learning the calendar: is cyclocross mainly preparation for the spring classics, or does he race it as a separate goal as well? I’d love to see him back in the mud.jeremya04-11-2026
- The article makes it sound as if Roubaix is the only classic where he has a realistic shot. He’s been close in Flanders too, and one good tactical day can change everything.jennifer1904-11-2026
- Milan-Sanremo and Roubaix is a pretty special pair of Monuments. Any clues yet on which cyclocross races he’ll target?andrewf04-11-2026
- He’s right to be realistic about Flanders with Pogačar and Evenepoel around, but you can’t count Van Aert out on those roads. If he gets the right opportunity, he has the engine and experience to take it.davidm04-11-2026
- That Roubaix win felt like such a release after all the near-misses. Brilliant to hear that joy outweighed relief for Wout.patriciaw04-11-2026
- Why would a mountain time trial be different from a normal one? Is it just that the riders have to climb the whole course?samanthak03-11-2026
- I don’t quite buy the “fear of failure” argument. Riders can race the Giro and still have confidence in July; it comes down to recovery and planning, doesn’t it?patriciaw03-11-2026
- The Giro-Tour double is a massive ask, even for the very best. Pogačar made it look almost routine in 2024, but that’s hardly a sensible benchmark for everyone else!pedalpowe2903-11-2026
- Bakelants makes a fair point: if the 2027 Tour really suits Remco, he can’t afford to dilute the build-up. That 37km flat TT will be tempting, mind.julien03-11-2026
- Mont Blanc sounds like a spectacular finish, though four climbs on the final day might be a bit much after eight hard stages. Hope the route details are clear soon.raceready703-11-2026