Van Aert relaxes with wife Sarah in Rome, while Philipsen puts girlfriend to work in Taiwan

Van Aert ended his road season in September, when he finished 18th in the SUPER 8 Classic. Of course, the 31-year-old rider from Visma | Lease a Bike will be back on his cyclo-cross bike this winter, more so than last year. But first, it's time for a well-deserved break. The all-rounder is spending it in Italy, in the capital, Rome, to be precise.

Without the kids, whom he left behind in Belgium, he and his wife, Sarah De Bie, enjoyed the history of the place. On his Instagram, he shared a photo of the couple in front of the Palatine Hill, the earliest inhabited hill in Rome. Later, a palace and a temple were built there, the remains of which are still visible today. A beautiful history lesson for Van Aert and De Bie!

Philipsen took a very different—and less peaceful—approach. Van Aert's compatriot rode his last race in Binche-Chimay-Binche (October 7) and then headed to Taiwan. He will surely take some time to rest there, but he was also there for L'Étape by Tour de France. This event offers Taiwanese people a glimpse into the spectacle of the Tour.

Philipsen was there and brought his girlfriend Melanie Peetermans along. She was challenged (or forced?) by her boyfriend to participate in the amateur race, despite having no training, she said on Instagram. Suddenly, 104 kilometers became a hellish task, but she managed to complete the race in 4 hours and 28 minutes. Hats off to her! Whether she will ever do this again is doubtful, however...