“The stage wins in Siena and Paris really made my year” – Wout van Aert closes season at Super 8 Classic

Wout van Aert drew the curtain on his season at the Super 8 Classic in Belgium, finishing outside the sprint for victory as Lotto’s Arnaud De Lie powered to another win. The young Belgian continued his September form, outsprinting Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s Matthew Brennan and Bora’s Jordi Meeus. For Van Aert, who had been part of the day’s key move with Brennan and Christophe Laporte, the finale marked a closing chapter on a season of highs and near misses.

“With a slightly better version of myself and my teammates, we could have played a bit more,” said Van Aert to HLN. Visma Lease a Bike had opened the race with 80 kilometers to go, and for a moment looked in control with three riders in the front group. But Laporte was forced to abandon, leaving Van Aert and Brennan to respond to the attacks.

“We had hoped to postpone the Brennan card a bit. But the decision was quickly made. Things were going better for me than during the races in Canada, but I wasn't confident that if I got to the front with someone, I'd be able to finish it. I really enjoyed trying to keep things together.”

The Belgian reflected on his campaign, shaped by key wins and setbacks in the spring. “The stage wins in Siena and Paris really made my year. There were also some down times, where I missed opportunities. Now it's time for a vacation. But without a bike. They'll be happy about that back home. Now I can really be a dad.”

In the sprint for victory, Tudor’s Matteo Trentin was led out but overpowered by De Lie, who claimed his second major win in the space of a week. Brennan had to settle for second, but afterward expressed pride in both the team’s tactics and the support he received from senior riders.

“It was a hectic finale,” Brennan said in a team statement. “In the final kilometer there was really no control. I tried to follow Arnaud, because I knew he was the strongest sprinter in the group. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough left to come past him in the end. He is the rightful winner.”

He also paid tribute to his teammates’ efforts. “I enjoy racing in the Flemish classics. The team worked excellently all day, and in the finale Wout supported me fantastically. It’s special that such great riders believe in me. Without their help, I probably wouldn’t have been on the podium today.”