Wout van Aert has lived in Herentals since 2015, but he grew up in Lille. He broke through as a cyclo-cross rider at the highest level in 2014, and quickly rose to the top. In 2016, he made his breakthrough as a road rider. Praised for his versatility, van Aert is widely regarded as one of the best riders in the world.
He became cyclo-cross world champion three times in a row in the years 2016, 2017 and 2018, and has been awarded silver in this discipline as many times. Van Aert also won medals at the cycling world championships: silver on the road in 2020 and silver in time trial in 2020 and 2021. He was also five times Belgian cyclo-cross champion, twice Belgian time trial champion, and once Belgian road champion.
Besides the championships, his wins include cycling monument Milan-San Remo and classics such as Strade Bianche, Amstel Gold Race, Gent-Wevelgem, E3 Harelbeke and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
In the Tour de France, van Aert won nine stages including two individual time trials, a stage with a double climb over Mont Ventoux and the prestigious final stage on the Champs-Elysées. In 2022, he was overall winner of the green jersey in the points classification.
Van Aert rides for Dutch World Tour team Team Visma - Lease a Bike.
In 2020, Linde Merckpoel, presenter at Studio Brussel, provided a worthy tribute. She made an original graffiti drawing on the road, near his rural home in Heerle/Huizen. You can find the artwork in Lille near Heerle 16, 2275 Lille.
On the walking route Tour Elentrik in Lille-Poederlee, there is also a utility box dedicated to Wout van Aert.
