Van Aert puts crown on spring classics campaign with Paris-Roubaix victory
# Wout van Aert Seizes Historic Paris-Roubaix Victory, Honors Late Teammate
In a thrilling conclusion to the spring classics season, Wout van Aert celebrated a career-defining moment by triumphing in the iconic Paris-Roubaix. “This victory means everything to me,” an emotional Van Aert expressed after crossing the finish line. “There were moments when I thought it might never happen for me, but giving up was never an option. My family, the team and I have been through so much. But we kept going, and I always felt everyone’s support. To me, this victory is the culmination of a lifetime’s work.”
As the 123rd edition of the prestigious French race unfolded, Team Visma | Lease a Bike quickly made its presence felt at the front. The team’s strategy unfolded neatly during the opening cobbled sectors, positioning themselves among the leaders.
With 100 kilometers still to race, the dynamics shifted dramatically. Van Aert took charge as he entered the Forest of Wallers, where the pack began to fragment. Despite facing setbacks that pushed him into a chase mode, Van Aert showcased remarkable resilience. He rejoined the front with 60 kilometers to go, where he soon launched an attack, closely followed only by Tadej Pogačar.
“I had planned to attack, and when I made my move only Pogacar could follow,” Van Aert recounted. “It was a crazy race with so much happening, but I felt incredibly strong. We worked well together, and it’s special to fight for victory against a champion like him.”
In the final sprint towards the Roubaix Velodrome, Van Aert proved his prowess by edging out Pogačar, completing a remarkable feat.
Head of Racing Grischa Niermann echoed the sentiment of the team. “We are incredibly happy, and no one deserves this more than Wout. This victory means so much to him and to the team. He has come so close so many times, only to be beaten by someone just a little bit better. To see him finally do it, in what is perhaps the greatest one-day race on the calendar, is fantastic.”
Van Aert also dedicated his victory to his late teammate, Michael Goolaerts. “This one is for Michael Goolaerts, my former teammate. Since his passing, I think about him every time Paris-Roubaix comes around. Losing Michael caused so much pain for everyone, and to be able to win here for him means so much.”
As cycling enthusiasts celebrate this monumental win, Van Aert’s victory stands as both a personal achievement and a tribute to the resilience of the team and the memory of a lost friend.
In related events, the Paris-Roubaix Femmes also concluded with Franziska Koch taking first place, while Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s Marianne Vos and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot claimed second and third respectively, showcasing a strong performance in the women’s race.
