Van Aert's Giro win highlights a different story: 'Wout has security, but he earns the bare minimum'

“It’s been a really tough year,” were the first words Sarah De Bie shared with Sporza after Van Aert’s emotional victory. “It’s not easy constantly picking up the pieces. In those moments you start asking yourself if it’s all still worth it. Wout has two kids now and he’s an incredible dad. But when you see someone working so hard and things just don’t go their way, then this... this is really special to witness.”

Her words struck a chord with others in the cycling world too, including Friedel Guldemont, partner of Alex Colman who rides for Flanders-Baloise. “After Sarah De Bie’s powerful interview following Wout’s incredible win in Siena, I felt the need to share something too, as a fellow cycling partner. Not as a reaction, but as an addition,” she wrote on Facebook.

“Out of support, but also to share something many of us can relate to,” Guldemont continued. “The emotions, the worries, the deep pride are all very familiar to us. The release that comes with a win, especially after so many setbacks, is huge. The way Sarah described the constant patching up, the sky-high pressure, the fight to come back every time really moved me. Because that’s the reality for so many in this sport, including us.”

Her partner, Alex Colman, also hit the deck hard multiple times this past year, just like Van Aert. “What many people don’t see or understand is what it really means to live alongside a pro cyclist. My partner Alex also had three major crashes last season. But the big difference between Wout and Alex is that Wout has his spot, his career, his security. Alex rides for Team Flanders Baloise, a ProTeam development squad. After the first two years, contracts are renewed annually. Riders like Alex earn the bare minimum.”

“And in the meantime, they’re judged as if they need to win a Monument every week,” the Belgian added. “They race against the very best, chasing a spot in the WorldTour, but often live with the fear that one crash could change everything. One mistake, one stroke of bad luck, and your dream, your future, your stability are suddenly at risk. It is exhausting not just for them but also for us, their partners, their families, their support system.”

“I am not writing this for pity but for perspective. To show what it is really like. What it feels like to keep fighting, not just on the bike but together as a family. How tough the battle is to earn that one spot in a generation full of top talent. How much these young riders and their families deserve to be seen, heard and supported. They race with heart and soul, chasing that one shot, and the fight is very real,” Guldemont concluded.