“Knew It Was Over” – Gravel Champion Wout Van Aert Suffers Flat Tire on Spanish Off-Road Courses at Clásica Jaén

Wout van Aert started his 2024 with a bang at the Clásica de Almería as he guided his team home. He was all geared up for the challenging segments of rain-soaked gravel roads at the Clásica Jaén. But, as fate would have it, an unfortunate encounter during the race cut his dream short.

With 53 kilometres to go in the race, the Visma-Lease A Bike rider made his way to the sidelines after a nail flattened his tire. It was a moment of unfortunate luck that forced him back of the entire peloton. The entire setback ended any hopes of securing a victory. Even though he put in maximum efforts to catch up, he was always going to fall short.

Flat tyre at Clásica Jaén cost Wout van Aert a whole minute

After Tadej Pogačar enjoyed a smashing debut at the Spanish off-course track last year, Wout van Aert had his eyes on making a memorable start. The four segments of Clásica Jaén posed a unique challenge after a radically different winter program. Everyone was eager to watch van Aert’s form for the approaching cobbled classics.

With a backdrop of the majestic olive plantations in Southern Spain, the 158km race garnered immense excitement from fans and experts worldwide. Why this race was important for Wout van Aert were due to two reasons; the formidable one-day rivals on track and 17.9km off-road race. But unfortunately for him, his dream of victory were buried in the gravel after a nail flattened his tire.

He got the tire replaced with the help of his teammate Per Strand Hagenes, who gave him his in moment of great camaraderie. Then started his second attempt at making most out of the race.

A champion even under pressure

Unfazed by obstacles, Van Aert displayed remarkable determination as he launched a mighty push to catch up with the leading pack. His fellow riders Sepp Kuss and Jan Tratnik were waiting, but the distance was far too much to cover. As the race intensified and the pace picked up in order to catch the escapees, Van Aert’s courageous endeavor ultimately fell short.

“There wasn’t much point in keeping Sepp and Jan waiting. I tried again, but it didn’t work,” Van Aert said. “I had Tim (van Dijke) with me for a while, and on that climb, I tried to get over. But when that didn’t work, I knew it was over.”

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Despite the relentless rain and difficult terrain, he persevered and finally crossed the finish line. He was the last of 45 finishers, 6 minutes and 36 seconds behind the victorious Oier Lakzano from Movistar. As he looked back on the challenging experience, Van Aert couldn’t help but lament the unfortunate mishap that occurred, acknowledging the pivotal moment when the dynamics of the race shifted.

Driven by a strong sense of urgency and an unwavering determination for victory, Van Aert chose to quickly change his tires instead of swapping out his entire bike. Though he managed to close the gap to less than 30 seconds at one point, the main pack ahead remained just out of his reach, teasing him with their elusive lead along the winding course.

He found comfort in the untamed splendor of the Spanish landscape, drawing parallels to the renowned Strade Bianche race with a longing grin. As he embarked on his journey to Portugal’s Volta ao Algarve, Van Aert revealed his eagerness to revisit the Clásica Jaén, determined to create a new narrative in the days to come.

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