Wout van Aert has to concede to his childhood friend in the final kilometers of the Belgian Gravel Championship

Wout van Aert successfully completed his final test ahead of the Vuelta a España on Sunday. The Belgian rider from Visma | Lease a Bike competed in the Belgian Gravel Championships in his home region, where he set the pace alongside his training partner and close friend Daan Soete. Soete pulled away in the final three kilometers.

Van Aert announced a few weeks ago that he would be competing in the Belgian Gravel Championships, since the event was taking place in Grobbendonk—not far from his hometown of Herentals. The Belgian said he had wanted to compete last year, but his schedule didn’t allow it at the time. Earlier this year, Van Aert also raced Marly Grav in South Limburg.

The Belgian, who will start in Monaco on Saturday and go on to compete in the Vuelta a España, was certainly not the only big name in Grobbendonk: Tim Merlier, Niels Vandeputte, Laurens Sweeck, Jente Michels, Daan Soete, Greg Van Avermaet, Laurenz Rex, and Jan Bakelants were on the start list.

The race covered 163 kilometers, with more than 60 percent of the course on gravel, part of which was on the military base in Grobbendonk. Ahead of the race, Van Aert had already announced that he was really looking forward to it. “Having fun is the top priority. This race won’t change my career much. But at some point, the competitive spirit kicks in and you want to try to win the race,” he told Sporza.

Van Aert brushed aside the idea that a gravel race could be dangerous, especially just one week before the Vuelta. “Racing in Hamburg would be much more dangerous. Besides, there are always dangers, even when you’re training on public roads. I’m not afraid, but I’m not going to take any unnecessary risks either,” the Belgian said ahead of the race.

Van Aert immediately took the lead and pulled away with Vandeputte and Sweeck, among others, but he didn't want to do all the work himself. He then let a small group—including his training partner Soete—pull ahead, before catching up to them on his own a short time later.

In addition to Van Aert and Soete, the breakaway group consisted of Stan Van Tricht, Jo Pirotte, Witse Meeussen, and Jarno Bellens. That group entered the final of three major local laps with a lead of over a minute, after which Van Aert pushed the pace once again with 22 kilometers to go. His close friend Soete, who lives in Grobbendonk, was able—and, above all, determined—to keep up.

Soete had already mentioned this scenario before the race. “First and foremost, we have to make sure we survive the first few hours of the race. If we manage that, Wout will probably take me with him—or at least try to. He does that in the peloton too, though it’s not easy to keep up with him. Crossing the finish line together—that would be great. But I’m not expecting any favors. I don’t want to put Wout in that position,” said Soete.

And so it happened. Van Aert and Soete rode together toward the finish line, where Van Aert’s family was also standing to cheer them on. With 2.5 kilometers to go, Soete suddenly pulled away from Van Aert and left him behind.

It wasn't clear exactly what happened, but Van Aert seemed to glance at his front wheel a few times and even took a gel ten kilometers from the finish. Anyway: Soete is the deserving winner, ahead of his best friend1

1. Daan Soete
2. Wout van Aert
3. Witse Meeussen