{"id":6865,"date":"2025-08-08T20:04:06","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T18:04:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/?p=6865"},"modified":"2025-08-08T20:04:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T18:04:08","slug":"wout-van-aert-ends-2025-season-skips-world-championships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/franceletour.com\/fr\/wout-van-aert-ends-2025-season-skips-world-championships\/","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\uded1 Wout van Aert Pulls the Plug Early on 2025 Season \u2014 Skips Worlds and Euros"},"content":{"rendered":"

Visma-Lease a Bike star ends campaign after Super 8 Classic in September<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea Van Aert Shifts Focus to Rest and Recovery After Grueling Season<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After months of high-intensity racing across Europe\u2019s biggest roads, Wout van Aert is calling time on his 2025 campaign a little earlier than expected. The Belgian powerhouse has officially scratched his name off the start lists for both the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda<\/strong> and the European Championships<\/strong>, opting instead to wrap up his season on September 20<\/strong> at the Super 8 Classic<\/strong> in Flanders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision, confirmed by his team Visma-Lease a Bike<\/strong>, follows a demanding year packed with Grand Tour appearances, Spring Classics, and a heavy workload dating back to the cyclo-cross season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“After such a packed season, it\u2019s crucial not to overdo it,”<\/em> Van Aert said in a team release. “We\u2019ve drawn up a final set of goals that give me motivation, without pushing the limits too far.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udcc6 What\u2019s Left on Wout\u2019s Calendar?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before parking the bike for 2025, Van Aert will take on five more races<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Deutschland Tour<\/strong> \u2013 August 20\u201324<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Bretagne Classic \u2013 Ouest-France<\/strong> \u2013 August 31<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Grand Prix de Qu\u00e9bec<\/strong> \u2013 September 12<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Grand Prix de Montr\u00e9al<\/strong> \u2013 September 14<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Super 8 Classic (Belgium)<\/strong> \u2013 September 20<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s a program tailored for punchy one-day specialists \u2014 a style of racing where Van Aert continues to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \ud83d\udd01 No Rainbow Stripes This Year \u2014 Again<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    This marks the second consecutive year<\/strong> Van Aert will be absent from the Worlds. In 2024, a knee injury forced him out of the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a and ultimately the Championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Though he\u2019s come heartbreakingly close to World Championship glory several times \u2014 four silvers, including in Imola (2020), Leuven (2021), and Glasgow (2023) \u2014 the rainbow jersey will have to wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    “It\u2019s disappointing, of course,”<\/em> Belgian national coach Serge Pauwels<\/strong> told Sporza. “Wout brings more than results \u2014 he\u2019s a leader, a tactician, and a fighter. His absence will be felt.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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    \ud83d\udd04 From Cross to Giro to Tour \u2013 A Full Calendar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Van Aert kicked off 2025 with a mini cyclo-cross block before turning to the road, hitting 56 race days<\/strong> including two Grand Tours: the Giro d\u2019Italia<\/strong> and Tour de France<\/strong> \u2014 where he claimed a stage in each. He also raced an intense Spring campaign and supported Visma\u2019s GC ambitions throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That workload would stretch most riders to the edge. For Van Aert, it\u2019s a matter of smart pacing \u2014 not burnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    “I\u2019ve ticked off so many bucket-list goals this year. Riding the Giro was a new experience that gave me extra drive, just like the Vuelta last year. I need that variety.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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    \ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea What\u2019s Next for Belgium?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    With Van Aert out, Remco Evenepoel<\/strong> becomes Belgium\u2019s central figure heading into both Championships. The reigning Time Trial World Champion<\/strong> will race in both the road race and TT in Kigali<\/strong>, before flying to France for the European Championships in early October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    All eyes will now be on Evenepoel to chase rainbows once again \u2014 but the squad will be without one of its most dependable riders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    \ud83d\udeb5\u200d\u2642\ufe0f Why Rwanda Will Be Brutal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The Kigali Worlds are shaping up to be among the most difficult in recent memory:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • Road Race:<\/strong> 267.5 km with over 5,475m of elevation gain<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Time Trial:<\/strong> 40.6 km with 680m of climbing<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      It\u2019s a course built for climbers and puncheurs \u2014 perhaps a factor in Van Aert\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n\n\n