Van Aert and Philipsen face sharp criticism: "Are you an influencer or a cyclist?"

2024 may have been a year full of bad luck for Wout van Aert, but the positive updates on his recovery have been coming in rapidly. However, not everyone is pleased with the photos and videos shared on social media. Former rider Johan Vansummeren spoke out in the Belgian paper Het Belang van Limburg's 2024 recap, criticizing Van Aert’s recovery updates. In the same recap, Jasper Philipsen also faced criticism from the former Paris-Roubaix winner for his European Championship preparation.

Let’s go back to the end of March when Van Aert had a heavy and high-speed crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen. This ultimately forced him to miss his two major goals, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. In hindsight, it wasn’t the only major misfortune for the Belgian Visma | Lease a Bike rider that year. In the sixteenth stage of the Vuelta, he crashed hard yet again during a descent, sustaining a severe knee injury that forced him to abandon the race. His autumn goals also went out the window.

"Crashes at such high speeds certainly don't make you better," Vansummeren said, reflecting on Van Aert's unfortunate year. The Belgian ex-pro also noted that time is beginning to run out. "Wout has just turned 30, and another chance to win that top classic has slipped by." During his recovery, Van Aert posted frequent updates on his social media, something that annoyed Vansummeren. "I'm getting tired of all his videos. Throwing crutches into a container, involving his wife and kids. Are you an influencer or a cyclist?" the former rider asked bluntly.

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Philipsen also does not escape criticism Vansummeren's criticism

In the 2024 cycling year recap, the 43-year-old ex-rider also commented on the European Championship in Belgium, won by Tim Merlier. It was particularly Philipsen’s preparation for the European Championship that angered Vansummeren. The Belgian (and Flemish) sprinter had gone on a high-altitude training camp in Italy. "A sprinter needs to sprint, not constantly go on high-altitude training camps. I think Jasper lost the European Championship in Livigno. The only flat roads you’ll find there are between tunnels. There’s no way your top speed isn’t affected by all that uphill riding," Vansummeren said in harsh words. Philipsen ultimately finished just off the podium in that European Championship, behind Merlier, Olav Kooij and Madis Mihkels.