Mathieu Warnier, Media365, published on Saturday January 4, 2025 at 7:50 p.m.
At the start of a cyclo-cross race for the second time this winter, Wout Van Aert seized his chance to win in Gullegem as part of the Superprestige.
Wout Van Aert has rediscovered the taste for victory. After being unlucky for his return to cyclo-cross in Loenhout, with a supporter who caused him to fall in the final, the rider from the Visma-Lease a Bike team seized his chance during the stage of the Superprestige organized this Saturday in Gullegem. Placed in a group of nine runners who took off on the first lap of the circuit, the bronze medalist in the time trial during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games began to raise his voice during the fourth loop on the program for this event. This allowed him to outdistance all his opponents, including Lars van der Haar. The latter was the victim of a fall causing a dislocation of a shoulder which he put back into place himself and then got back on his bike. After Michael Vanthourenhout, it was Eli Iserbyt who was able to take the wheel of Wout Van Aert. A duo who explained their victory in the final lap of the circuit.
Van Aert: “It feels really good”
Taking advantage of the reigning Belgian champion's mistakes, the rider from the Visma-Lease a Bike team ended up breaking away to win solo with ten seconds ahead of Eli Iserbyt when Michael Vanthourenhout completed the podium at 31 seconds . On the French side, Clément Venturini finished 18th, just over three minutes behind. Wout Van Aert did not expect this victory. “It’s really a surprise for me to be able to do this already,” he first confided shortly after arrival. He then confirmed that he had approached the cyclo-cross season without the slightest ambition. “I really started this winter with no expectations. I say it every time, but it turns out to be hard for people to believe, he added. Because they are used to me always competing to win. 2025 has started and it feels really good. » A success that the Belgian could build on this Sunday with the World Cup stage organized in Dendermonde, where he will not cross swords with Mathieu van der Poel, who has withdrawn.
