'It has to make sense' - Wout van Aert remains coy on World Championships involvement after gruelling Tour de France
Published 01/08/2025 at 12:12 GMT+1
The Tour de France ended with glory for Wout van Aert, but attention will soon turn to the World Championships. The event will take place in Rwanda at the end of September, but Van Aert said his involvement will need to "make sense". He admitted that he is not "completely fresh" after a difficult Tour and a major effort to pull clear of his rivals in Paris last weekend.
Stage 21 highlights: Van Aert rips up script as champion Pogacar denied Champs-Elysees win
Video credit: TNT Sports
Wout van Aert said he has not yet decided whether to compete at the World Championships in September.
The Visma–Lease a Bike rider is recovering from a gruelling Tour de France, which he ended with a memorable stage win in Paris.
This year's World Championships course in Rwanda is expected to suit the Belgian, but he was non-committal when asked about his potential involvement.
"The Worlds are always beautiful, but it has to make sense," he said.
"These are tough questions. I haven’t thought about it yet. That’s something for the coming days and weeks.
"And no, I haven’t spoken to the national coach - I’ve had enough on my plate just replying to all the messages."
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Van Aert claims 'most memorable, most glorious' win on final stage at Tour de France
Video credit: TNT Sports
Van Aert fought back from two serious injuries last year to play a pivotal role in victory for Simon Yates at the Giro d'Italia in May.
He finished eighth in the Tour de France points classification, but took the headlines last weekend with his memorable victory in the final stage after an incredible summit of Montmartre.
The 30-year-old admitted that he is not "completely fresh" after his efforts in Paris.
"I don’t feel completely fresh. I’ve tried to rest after the Tour, but I did have a few small celebrations," he said.
"Every time I opened my phone, I saw that finish [of Stage 21] again. Only then did I realise how special it really was."
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After the spectacular Tour finale, Van Aert said: "It was a special day out – and really special to win here on the Champs-Elysees again, and on the first occasion where we climbed to Montmartre.
"The rain made it quite sketchy, but I managed to stay upright and I had the full support of my team-mates. I really have to thank them for keeping believing in me.
"They helped me control this race so that I could leave it all out there on the last climb. It was our plan, and it worked. I came close a few times [earlier in the Tour] but I was quite far off on several occasions.
"The hardest thing was to keep the belief, but because people around me were able to do it, I could as well."
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