Van Aert commits rest of career to Visma Lease a Bike

Wout van Aert has agreed to enactment pinch squad Visma Lease a Bike for nan remainder of his career.

The 30-year-old Belgian, victor of 9 Tour de France stages, joined past Team Jumbo-Visma successful 2019 and his erstwhile statement was group to expire successful 2026.

"I didn't person to deliberation agelong erstwhile this thought came up," said Van Aert.

"I consciousness very overmuch astatine location successful this team, which is very important to me. This squad is unsocial and has suited maine for 5 years and I want to support it that way. That's why I decided to enactment present forever, and that feels really good."

Van Aert has won respective prestigious one-day classical roadworthy races including Milan-San Remo, Amstel Gold Race and Strade Bianche.

The three-time world cyclo-cross champion, who has besides won 3 Vuelta a Espana stages, won Olympic bronze successful nan clip proceedings astatine Paris 2024.

"This is unsocial successful our sport, but we some didn't person to deliberation agelong astir that," said squad CEO Richard Plugge.

"Wout has go an important civilization carrier, an indispensable nexus successful our team. He is simply a leader and a squad player. He is simply a rider who besides makes others successful nan squad better, conscionable done his insights and charisma.

"We are highly happy pinch him and fortunately that is mutual."

Van Aert's 2024 play was ended by a clang during shape 16 of nan Vuelta a Espana, successful which he suffered a superior knee injury.

A clang astatine nan Dwars doorway Vlaanderen one-day title successful March near him pinch a surgery collarbone and respective surgery ribs, keeping him retired of nan outpouring classics and nan Giro d'Italia.

Team Visma Lease a Bike's main target for 2025 will beryllium to reclaim nan Tour de France title, aft Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates hit Jonas Vingegaard to triumph this year.