Wout van Aert entered the 2025 Giro d’Italia with strong expectations and renewed ambition. Having recently overcome illness that disrupted his pre-race preparation, his second-place finish on the race’s challenging opening stage suggested that he was in form and poised to contend for the prestigious maglia rosa. Many fans and analysts saw him as a favorite to don the pink jersey during the early stages, particularly on Saturday in Tirana. However, cycling can be unpredictable — and stage two proved just that.
On what was supposed to be a decisive day, Van Aert finished a disappointing 39th place, trailing stage winner Josh Tarling of Ineos Grenadiers by 34 seconds. This significant time loss caused him to fall to 11th overall in the general classification, 32 seconds behind the new race leader, Primož Roglič of Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe. It was a sobering blow for the Belgian rider and his Visma–Lease a Bike team, who had hoped for a much stronger showing.
As the finish line chaos settled, Van Aert rode past awaiting journalists, choosing not to immediately stop for media interviews. Ironically, he pulled his bike to a stop just outside the designated area for the stage’s classification leaders — a poignant moment that emphasized the disappointment of a missed opportunity. Just meters away, the pink jersey was being celebrated, a position Van Aert had hoped to be in himself.
True to his reputation for professionalism and humility, Van Aert addressed the media shortly after, despite his clear frustration and fatigue. Asking for space from the crowd of reporters so he could recover his breath, he opened up about his performance and how the stage had unraveled for him. “I had high hopes of being able to at least fight for the pink jersey or maybe to take it, but that didn’t work out,” he admitted candidly.
Van Aert’s reflections were tinged with confusion and disappointment. “My feelings were like the result,” he said. “I don’t know how far I am behind, but I could see all the way through that I just did not have enough power.” He noted that although he still felt relatively fast on the bike, something was missing — specifically, the strength needed to accelerate through key technical sections like corners. “It was not great. I still felt kind of fast, but I felt I lacked the power to pick up the pace after the corners,” he explained.
The result adds another twist to what has been a tumultuous 2025 season for Van Aert. After a 2024 campaign riddled with injury and setbacks, he had shown signs of returning to peak form in the spring classics and early races of this year. His fans and team were hopeful that the Giro would be a platform for redemption and possibly even historic success. But cycling, like all elite sport, is unforgiving, and even the smallest physical deficit can translate into massive competitive consequences.
Still, Van Aert’s grace in adversity and willingness to engage with the media reflect his maturity and enduring appeal. Whether this performance is a temporary setback or a sign of deeper struggles remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that Van Aert will not be giving up. With several stages still ahead in the Giro and other major races looming later in the season, there is time for the Belgian rider to recover, refocus, and reclaim his spot among the race leaders.
For now, though, the pink jersey remains elusive, and Van Aert is left to reflect on what might have been.
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