For years they have been mentioned in the same breath, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. Lately, however, it seems that the rivalry has subsided somewhat between the two. Is that true, or is this rather imaginary? Wout van Aert gives the answer.
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A media thing
“A good question,” he answered at the Visma-Lease a Bike media day. “I think that rivalry is still there, but I think it was always bigger for you than for us. Not just for you, but for the outside world in general,” he says at CyclingUptoDate.
“In cyclo-cross, this rivalry is more visible, because the two of us often end up in the lead. It seemed as if we were only riding against each other. On the road it is very different: there are always more riders in the game,” Van Aert points out the greater competition for victories.
“Even now, in a number of classics, a great opponent has been added,” he refers to Tadej Pogacar. “That rivalry is still there, but of course Mathieu’s record is somewhat greater than mine,” the Kempen resident cannot ignore the facts.
Which does not mean that he still has the feeling that he can still handle Van der Poel. Such as in Mol, where Van Aert unfortunately dropped out. “I came back to him and also had the feeling that I had a chance to win, but it didn’t happen,” he says.
Back to the roots
It will soon have to happen in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix – or that is the intention – this year with the old approach. Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo – where there will also be a duel – will be back in Van Aert’s programme.
Still, he thought it was worthwhile to ignore those races for 2 years: “Yes, I think so. In ’24 I was just unlucky. And last year, in ’25, I was at a very good level. But others were better. It was certainly worthwhile to try a different approach.”
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