Wout van Aert travels to Ibiza with Mathieu van der Poel’s private airline

“We’re going to Ibiza,” Wout van Aert announced in an Instagram Story, utilizing a private airline associated with Mathieu van der Poel.

Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert has drawn attention after traveling with FlyingGroup, a private airline where Mathieu van der Poel serves as an ambassador. Wielernieuws reported that the trip follows the conclusion of Van Aert’s road and cross season after the World Championships, which included a holiday with his wife Sarah and a recent return to training in Belgium.

Post-Season Rest Interrupted by Reality Check

Following weeks of post-season downtime and vacationing with his wife, Van Aert laced up his running shoes for a nearly 10-kilometer jog after returning home to the Campine region. The initial workout proved humbling for the multiple-time cyclo-cross world champion. According to Wielernieuws, Van Aert titled his Strava activity for the outing “Hit with the hard facts,” signaling that regaining peak fitness after a well-earned break presents an immediate physical challenge.

Despite the abrupt reminder of athletic reality, the Belgian star still maintains a comfortable buffer before his scheduled return to the cyclo-cross discipline. Training workloads are expected to ramp up incrementally as autumn progresses into the winter racing calendar.

Private Aviation Ties Stir Familiar Controversy

The choice of transport for Van Aert’s subsequent getaway to Ibiza marks a striking crossover with his primary Dutch competitor. FlyingGroup, the private aviation firm utilized for the flight, counts Mathieu van der Poel among its prominent ambassadors. When Van der Poel first announced his partnership with the company, the arrangement triggered substantial debate regarding the carbon footprint of private jet travel versus elite athletic preparation.

At the time of that initial backlash, Van der Poel issued a direct defense of the arrangement. “I understand the concerns about the environment and I respect everyone’s voice,” the Dutch champion said previously, addressing his critics. “But this partnership is not about luxury, but about performance, recovery and the support that helps me to give 100% every time I appear at the start somewhere. I always try to make responsible choices where I can, but I also stand by the dedication I have shown to my goals.”

One-Off Flight Leaves Long-Term Partnership Unconfirmed

While Van der Poel remains a contracted face for the charter company, reporting from Wielernieuws indicates that Van Aert’s utilization of the service appears to be an isolated incident. Neither representatives for the rider nor industry monitors have released any indication that the Belgian rider intends to formalize a permanent ambassador contract with FlyingGroup.

Additional coverage from WielerNieuws.be, as indexed by Headliner, corroborated the timeline of Van Aert’s domestic return, his Strava training log, and his departure for the Balearic Islands, emphasizing that no official partnership between the rider and the aviation firm has been established beyond the single flight.