“I notice that I get more and more attention“, said Wout van Aert to journalists on Thursday during the presentation of the Jumbo-Visma team in Amsterdam. “I still think it can’t get any worse, and yet it turns out it does. People just ring my doorbell. This is useless. The chances of me opening are tiny.“
Van Aert is not targeting the media, but the fans. He may appreciate them, but certain behaviors shock him. “It happens regularly that people show up at my door. Yes, it happens. Even regularly. They knock on my door with a special request: to sign a shirt or organize something special. Everyone has their unique story and I understand that, but it’s not always easy. I prefer to be left alone when I’m at home.“
“It still surprises me sometimes. I was known in cyclocross, but now it’s much more widespread, beyond Belgium. I won’t say all over the world, but all over Europe all the same. It’s always a strange feeling. Abroad, I have long had the feeling of being “comfortable”but suddenly I am recognized there too.“
“Usually I don’t open the door. Maybe you can write it down. Maybe that way fewer people will come. You quickly learn that this attention is part of the life of a runner and I try in my own way to manage this and to remain friendly when I can. But I notice that I have become much more assertive in this regard. If I think there is something I don’t need to do or if I think they are intruding on my private sphere, I will let them know openly.“, assured Van Aert.
We do not know if many cyclists experience this kind of inconvenience, but Remco Evenepoelfor example, has chosen to live in Spain, he is perhaps a little less bothered.