Off the road, Wout van Aert is known for his discipline, power, and tactical brilliance—but few know about his Sunday mornings in Belgium, which he guards jealously. After a grueling week of training, team meetings, and media duties, Wout slips away from the public eye to spend quiet hours at his small countryside apartment near Herentals.
His ritual starts at 6:30 a.m., with the soft hum of the coffee grinder. He makes a double espresso, his first real luxury of the day, before donning his casual cycling gear—not for training, but for a gentle 20-kilometer spin along the Kempen trails. “It’s not about speed or Strava segments,” he jokes to friends. “It’s about the wind in your face and forgetting the calendar for a while.”
Back home, Wout greets his two rescue cats, Spoke and Peloton, who have become his unlikely training companions. According to his roommate, a former amateur cyclist, the cats have learned to “ride” the mini exercise bike beside him—jumping on the pedals as he spins slowly. “It’s chaotic,” he admits, “but somehow it’s my favorite part of the day.”
By mid-morning, Wout’s phone pings with messages from teammates and sponsors. But he saves those for after brunch, usually a hearty plate of Belgian waffles topped with fresh fruit, and a small glass of protein shake. Then comes a few hours of recovery: foam rolling, stretching, and reading through cycling magazines.
Fans know Wout as a powerhouse in cobbled classics and Grand Tours, but this slice of personal life shows another side: a man who treasures slow mornings, small joys, and the simple routine that keeps him grounded.
As the 2025 season winds down, insiders say this routine has helped him recharge mentally and physically, readying him for what’s next: cyclocross glory in winter and an ambitious spring campaign in 2026.
“People think pro cycling is all adrenaline and chaos,” Wout says with a smile. “But some days, it’s just coffee, cats, and quiet pedals. And that’s enough.”
