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ROUBAIX, France (Velo) — Another Paris-Roubaix, another close call, and another heartbreak for Wout van Aert.
The Belgian star remains a fan favorite — the roar that followed him into the Roubaix velodrome made that clear — but his long-sought breakthrough at the northern monuments will have to wait for another year.
After finishing fourth at the Ronde van Vlaanderen last week, Van Aert found himself in another fourth-place finish in a monument he’s long dreamed of winning.
“We came for more. We really wanted to win but it’s the same result for me like last week,” Van Aert said. “The podium is the same too, with the same three guys. I have to admit that there are three guys better. Mads dropped away in front with bad luck. There’s not much I can claim against those three. Fourth was my spot.”
Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar and Mads Pedersen bested the monument nearly man Van Aert both in Flanders and in Roubaix. He acknowledged that they were riding on another level this year.
“Thanks to the bad luck from others, the podium came in sight but Mads was stronger. I obviously wasn’t really confident to sprint against Mads. It’s always a strange sprint after such a hard race, so I tried. He launched early and I couldn’t do more than stay in the slipstream,” Van Aert said.
After the media scrum, Van Aert headed to the spot where his wife and two children were awaiting him for a friendlier audience.
“That’s always nice. It’s such a good feeling to see them. They’re proud, whatever you performed. I love to have them around,” Van Aert said.
‘I have no regrets’
Van Aert was part of an early crash that wasn’t caught on cameras, putting him on a back foot on the first pavé sectors. His knee that was already showing the signs of previous crashes received another knock.
“I was part of a crash early on. I don’t think it’s a serious injury. We’ll have to look at it. It certainly didn’t bother me during the race. It wasn’t anything big but the outcome was that I had to race back from behind. On the first sector, I was spending way too much energy,” Van Aert said.
As always, the Belgian rider wasn’t looking for excuses.
“I have not one regret of how I prepared and of how I raced. I threw myself into the action with everything I had. I have to be happy and satisfied with what I did. It’s bike racing.”
#ParisRoubaix
Fourth place for Wout van Aert.
Once again, he fought like a warrior. pic.twitter.com/Nr2orWcjQm— Team Visma | Lease a Bike (@vismaleaseabike) April 13, 2025
Van Aert and Visma-Lease a Bike wanted more.
After his crash early on, Van Aert bounced back and when reaching the famous cobbled Arenberg forest sector, he was right on Pogacar’s wheel and then he was seen losing ground.
“I wasn’t good at that moment. In the Wallers forest I was where I had to be but didn’t have the legs yet,” Van Aert said. “I just wasn’t able to go forward. At that point of the race, there was nothing on my mind that thought I would still be riding the finale.
“That was a surprise. After the forest I wasn’t feeling much better, but I ended up being part of the chase group.”
‘The season is only started’
Van Aert tried to find some good news among the rubble.
Teammate Matthew Brennan is the new kid on the block at Visma-Lease a Bike. The young 19 year-old British rider featured in the favorites group for a very long time during his maiden ride in Paris-Roubaix, and Van Aert was pleasantly surprised by his ride.
“Indeed. Matthew was able to stay with me for a very long time. That was nice to see. We tried to work together as good as possible,” Van Aert said.
Wout van Aert losing Matt Brennan’s wheel on Arenberg. Incredible scenes. #ParisRoubaix pic.twitter.com/M7tPelvTFe
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) April 13, 2025
The Visma-Lease a bike team is the only team that uses the Gravaa pressure-regulator system during this year’s Paris-Roubaix. On Saturday, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Marianne Vos were profiting from the system. On Sunday, it wasn’t as much of a topic.
“It worked flawlessly. There were no issues with it. It worked fantastic but you still need good legs though,” Van Aert smiled.
Cycling’s “Holy Week” is over and there were no miracles for Van Aert. Still, in contrast to Mathieu van der Poel, Van Aert will not be on spring break just yet.
“The season only just started for me, so I’ll go to Brabantse Pijl on Friday and then Amstel. Then a short break and then the Giro will be here soon.”
