Van Aert’s ultimate goals are driven by pure passion: "I’ve always wanted to be the best at everything"

"2024 was a year full of ups and downs. I’m very satisfied with the moments when I was competitive. I achieved some great results. But I spent far too much time on the sidelines due to injuries and crashes, so it’s certainly not been my best year," Van Aert begins in an interview with his personal sponsor, Red Bull.

"The three stage victories in the Vuelta were a highlight, but the Olympics definitely stand out for me. I won bronze in the time trial. At this point, I now have a medal in both road racing and the time trial. Achieving that was definitely a career goal for me."

To achieve that, however, he had to overcome quite a few hurdles. "Yes, those setbacks were not easy to deal with. In the spring, I mainly suffered physically. It took a while before I could train hard again. But with the summer coming up, I quickly had new goals, so that made it easier to flip the switch. In the fall, I had another bad crash in the Vuelta, and it was much harder to find that motivation again. Giving yourself time and spending time with family helps a lot in those moments."

But ultimately, the 30-year-old Belgian always finds that motivation. "My motivation is intrinsic. I’ve always wanted to be the best at everything, ever since I was a child. It’s something that comes back without me trying or even wanting it. I think the people around me are crucial in helping me keep things in perspective and making me realize there’s more to life. They’re important for maintaining balance."

With the Olympic medals checked off his wish list, there are still two very important races at the top of Van Aert’s list. "You sometimes look back on your career and feel proud of what you’ve achieved. But really, mostly you look to the future, trying to win the races you still dream of. For me, those are the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. Those are still the ultimate goals. When I think about that, I just want to do everything I can to achieve that."

On Monday, Van Aert will be at the starting line in Mol. Not because he expects to perform exceptionally well. More so, it's simply in his nature, he says. "These last few years, I’ve approached cyclo-cross in a much more limited way than before. But for me, it’s a ritual to go into the field during winter to bridge that period. Sometimes — especially when you’re injured — you think about taking it easy for a winter. But just the thought of it… It makes me itch too much to stay away. It’s my second nature, my first love that I’ll always return to."

Still, the Belgian immediately tempers expectations. Love may blind, but it doesn’t magically create a perfect preparation. "I had to focus on my rehabilitation for a long time. Even now, I’m still working to get my right leg as strong as my left. Naturally, that leaves less time to train for specific cyclo-cross skills. So, it’s really a question mark how competitive I’ll be. But there’s no doubt that I’m very excited about it."

Yet, everyone will expect Van Aert to perform. Whenever the Belgian competes, expectations inevitably follow. "Luckily, you get used to everything, even the role of being a favorite. It’s just important to stay true to yourself, to know what your own goals are, and how you view certain races. Because of the setbacks I’ve had, it’s realistic to aim for my best form in the spring, but maybe not right now. As long as I keep that in mind, I don’t need to worry too much about the public perception."