Wout van Aert is enjoying time with his family after a 2026 season that saw the Visma | Lease a Bike rider hit one of the high points of his career as well as a setback that caused him to miss the Tour de France. Looking ahead, he has some lofty ambitions for 2027.

The Belgian rider won Paris Roubaix in April after several near-misses with the iconic monument, and has his sights sets on another elusive goal going forward.

After the World Championships brought an end to his season, the 32-year-old has been focused on recovery after a busy second part of the season saw him miss the Tour de France due to injury before bouncing back with a successful Vuelta a Espana campaign.

"I am fully recovered mentally, that is the most important thing. For me, it is actually about simple things: mainly spending time with my family, the basics," Van Aert told Het Nieuwsblad.

Wout van Aert

Van Aert's Cyclocross plan

Although the road season is officially over, the Flanders native is usually a fixture in the winter Cyclocross season. A multiple time World Cup and World Championships winner, Van Aert confirmed that he intends to return to the high-octane discipline.

He said: "I am really looking forward to it, but I cannot yet say where or when I will start."

Speaking about the 2027 season, Van Aert still has the fire in his belly despite realising his Paris Roubaix destiny. The Tour of Flanders is a race he dreams of and is yet to win.

"A race I dream of"

"The Tour of Flanders is a race I dream of and am still missing, so I will keep aiming for that.

He added that a rainbow jersey is another major goal as he continues to race at the peak of his powers: "Just like the World Championships. At some point my time will be over, but it is nice to still have those goals. It keeps me fresh."

A Flanders win would be the third monument on the Belgian's pal mares after Roubaix this year and his 2020 Milano Sanremo victory. As well as his classics success, he has won ten Tour de France stages and five Vuelta a Espana wins.