Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 10:53 AM
Wout van Aert is back in Belgium after his training internship in Oliva, Spain. The Visma rider | Lease a Bike went for a run this morning and dedicated it to Rik Van Looy, who died yesterday at the age of 90. “Rest in peace, emperor,” Van Aert posted on Strava.
The news that Rik Van Looy died on Wednesday at the age of 90 does not leave Van Aert unmoved. Van Looy – also known as the ‘Emperor of Herentals’ – is one of the greatest Belgian cyclists of all time. His impressive list of achievements includes all five monuments, two World Championships, 39 stage victories in Grand Tours and countless other classics.
Wout van Aert, like Rik Van Looy, comes from Herentals and yesterday he posted a fitting tribute to his fellow townsman on his Instagram story. He also gave him a salute of honor today. “Rest in peace, Emperor,” is his caption on a Strava post this morning.
With a ten-kilometer run, Van Aert puts some extra tension on his legs, in the run-up to his return to the field. The three-time world champion will be back in action next Monday, when Van Aert is expected at the start of the Superprestigecross in Mol. In the Zilvermeercross he also immediately crosses swords with his great rival Mathieu van der Poel.
He then rides in Loenhout, Gullegem and Dendermonde, after which he rides with Visma | Lease a Bike leaves for training camp again. After that internship, there are two more crosses on the calendar, the World Cups in Benidorm and Maasmechelen, but then – barely a week before the Cyclo-Cross World Championships that will take place this year in Liévin, France – Van Aert (normally) puts an end to his cross campaign.
