Belgian cycling star Wout van Aert may not have had the dream season many expected, but he has found praise from an unexpected source—French rider Valentin Madouas of Groupama-FDJ. Despite criticism from media and fans about Van Aert’s supposed “average” performance this year, Madouas has stepped forward to publicly defend the Visma | Lease a Bike rider, calling his season “extraordinary.”
Looking back at Van Aert’s spring campaign, it began with promise but soon became a mixed bag of near-misses and frustrations. After a solid lead-up to the spring classics, a major opportunity was squandered at Dwars door Vlaanderen, where his team failed to capitalize on a numerical advantage against Neilson Powless. The real disappointments came in the season’s most prestigious one-day races: Van Aert narrowly missed the podium with two fourth-place finishes in both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
His next target was the Giro d’Italia, where he was looking to redeem himself. Stage one almost brought him the pink jersey, but he was edged out by Mads Pedersen in the sprint finish. Still, Van Aert’s persistence paid off during the first week, when he powered to a remarkable win in the Strade Bianche-style stage ending in Siena. It was a moment of redemption that punctuated a difficult stretch, finally silencing some of his critics.
This resilience is exactly what impressed Madouas, who spoke candidly about Van Aert’s challenges on the YouTube channel En Danseuse. “Even if your name is Wout van Aert, you always finish second or third, and you think, ‘What more can I do to win?’” said Madouas. “Sometimes, you just have to wait. But when you’re constantly hearing criticism, it’s not easy to rise above it.”
Madouas, himself a respected classics rider, believes Van Aert’s consistent top performances are a mark of greatness—not mediocrity. “He’s always there. Top five in every major classic. People say he’s having an average season, but I think it’s been outstanding,” he added.
This show of support is notable not just because of its sincerity, but also because it comes from a rider who often competes directly against Van Aert. In a sport known for its fierce rivalries, Madouas’ words highlight the deep respect Van Aert commands within the peloton.
Though Van Aert’s season may not yet include a monumental victory, the recognition from a peer like Madouas reinforces what many still believe: Wout van Aert remains one of the sport’s elite performers—no matter what the scoreboard says.
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