Van Aert Logs Intense Paris-Roubaix Sector Recon, Fueling Victory Bid
Belgian cyclo-cross and road star Wout van Aert completed seven laps of a critical Paris-Roubaix sector on Tuesday, signaling a focused and early readiness for the 2025 edition of the “Hell of the North.” The Visma-Lease a Bike rider’s grueling training session, documented on Strava under the name ‘Dokkeren’ – a Flemish term for riding cobblestones – centered on the Camphin-en-Pévèle and Carrefour de l’Arbre sectors, with the latter ridden five times.
Van Aert has consistently targeted Paris-Roubaix as a major career goal, achieving two podium finishes – 3rd in 2023 and 2nd in 2022 – and 4th place in april 2024. This intensive early reconnaissance suggests a determined effort to overcome past setbacks and finally claim victory in the prestigious race. The Carrefour de l’Arbre sector proved pivotal in the 2023 race, where a puncture for Van Aert ultimately dashed his chances against eventual winner Mathieu van der Poel.
Magnus Bäckstedt, the 2004 Paris-Roubaix champion, emphasized the importance of such preparation, stating he completed “probably three, if not four” reconnaissance rides of the cobbles prior to his winning year, adding “another five, six years of racing” to his physical understanding of the course.
Following the demanding ride, Van Aert will undergo medical testing at Visma-Lease a Bike’s headquarters in the Netherlands before joining a team training camp in Spain next month. His cyclo-cross season start is anticipated just before Christmas, though a specific race date remains unconfirmed.
