Wout van Aert returned to gravel racing and was immediately in the spotlight at the National Championships, finishing in second place. Certainly, his goal was to win his first Belgian title, but the Flemish rider faced difficulties due to cramps in the final kilometers: he was happy about his friend Daan Soete's victory, who proudly wore the tricolor jersey.

An hour and a half before the start, Van Aert shared his state of mind with the press present: "I want to race and be a protagonist in the finale, but above all I want to have fun."

This more relaxed approach compared to the past certainly contributed to a positive atmosphere, both for him and his teammates. The team's large yellow bus attracted the attention of numerous fans, who didn't miss the opportunity to ask for autographs and photos. Among the most original items to sign was a pillow with Van Aert's head on Superman's body, which drew a laugh: "It scares me a bit," the cyclist joked.

At 12:00, Van Aert lined up in the front row alongside well-known names like Daan Soete and Laurens Sweeck. The race quickly took an interesting turn when a group of five riders, including Soete, began to break away. Van Aert, noticing the situation, decided to attack and quickly closed the gap.

The synergy between van Aert and Soete was immediately evident in the race. The two riders grew up together on the very roads where the National Gravel Championship was held, and memories of when they were young didn't go unmentioned. "When we attacked up front, I had goosebumps," said Van Aert, while Soete recalled their early days in cycling. The crowd's support made the race even more special.

However, three kilometers from the finish line, Van Aert suffered a harsh blow: cramps forced him to slow down. "Five minutes before, my confidence was already fading; I felt the lights going out." This setback opened the door for Soete, who was able to claim the Belgian title. Despite the disappointment, Van Aert showed great sportsmanship, reflecting on his performance.

When asked what would have happened if they had stayed together, he replied with the voice of someone with certain experience: "I think it ended well. I wasn't upset about second place and then I'm truly happy for Daan's victory." The silver medal, in this case, had a special meaning, highlighting the bond between the two cyclists.

With this experience and the determination shown, Wout van Aert is ready to face the Vuelta a España, where he will be able to demonstrate his worth and, who knows, perhaps seek to achieve new milestones. His performance at the gravel Championships, despite the difficulties, confirmed his greatness both as an athlete and as a friend.