Wout van Aert signs 'unique' contract to end career with Team Visma-Lease a Bike - 'I feel very much at home'
Published 18/09/2024 at 13:22 GMT+1
Wout van Aert first arrived at Team Visma in 2019 and has now signed a contract to keep him with the team until the end of his career. He has taken nine Tour de France stage wins so far and won three stages of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana. Van Aert is also a two-time Olympic medallist. You can watch the 2024 World Cycling Championships live and on-demand on discovery+.
Van Aert produces 'piece of class' as he wins Stage 3 sprint
Video credit: TNT Sports
Wout van Aert has pledged to spend the rest of his career with Team Visma-Lease a Bike after extending his contract.
His previous deal was set to expire in 2026 but team CEO Richard Plugge says they made the “unique” move to cement Van Aert’s services due to his “indispensable” qualities.
"Van Aert has extended his contract with the team, which was set to expire in 2026, until the end of his career," said a team statement.
Plugge added: "This is unique in our sport, but we both didn't have to think long about that."
The nine-time Tour de France stage winner first raced for the team in 2019, when they were called Team Jumbo-Visma.
The Belgian has gone on to enjoy further Grand Tour success - winning three stages at this year’s Vuelta a Espana.
However, any chances of further glory in the Vuelta ended when he crashed out of the race.
The heavy crash caused a knee injury which ended his season early.
Before his injury disappointment, Van Aert added to his Olympic medal collection in Paris this summer by taking bronze in the time trial. That added to the silver he won at Tokyo 2020 in the road race.
Speaking about his decision to continue, and end, his career with Visma-Lease a Bike, Van Aert said: "I didn't have to think long when this idea came up.
“First of all, because at Team Visma-Lease a Bike we work with the best people and the best equipment. Together we are constantly looking for improvement, which means we keep developing individually but also as a team. I owe a lot of success to that, we really do it together.Â
“I feel very much at home in this team, which is very important to me. This team is unique and has suited me for five years and I want to keep it that way. That's why I decided to stay here forever, and that feels really good."
Retaining Van Aert in a team that also features two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard is a cause of great excitement for Plugge.Â
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Van Aert celebrates with his kid after chalking up Vuelta treble on Stage 10
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Wout is of course a fantastic rider with a great palmares,” he said.
“He is an all-rounder: a sprinter, a classic rider, a time trialist and on his best days he also wins a mountain stage like the famous victory on Mont Ventoux in the Tour de France. But besides that, Wout has really become an important culture carrier, an indispensable link in our team.
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“He is a leader and a team player. He is a rider who also makes others in the team better, just through his insights and charisma. We are extremely happy with him and fortunately that is mutual."
Stream the 2024 World Cycling Championships live and on-demand on discovery+
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