JUST Now: Sometimes life is very unfair” – Wout van Aert reveals Visma rode Finestre stage already with the news from Gesink family.
JUST NOW: “Sometimes Life Is Very Unfair” — Wout van Aert Opens Up About Finestre Stage and Emotional Blow from Gesink Family News
In one of the most emotionally charged moments of the 2025 cycling season, Wout van Aert has revealed that Team Visma-Lease a Bike rode the pivotal Colle delle Finestre stage of the Giro d’Italia already carrying devastating news from the family of teammate Robert Gesink. As the dust settled on what was otherwise a dramatic and heroic effort in the high Alps, Van Aert’s raw admission laid bare the human side of a sport often celebrated for its grit and endurance.
Tragedy Behind the Pedals
The Colle delle Finestre, with its unrelenting gravel and steep gradients, was already billed as the queen stage of this year’s Giro. For Team Visma, it was also a chance to showcase their dominance and teamwork. But as Wout van Aert revealed in a post-stage interview, the mood within the team had been anything but triumphant.
“Sometimes life is very unfair,” Van Aert said, his voice trembling slightly. “We knew before the stage that Robert [Gesink] had received terrible news from home. It was heartbreaking. But he told us to ride, to honor the jersey and do what we came to do.”
Sources close to the team later confirmed that Gesink had received word of a serious medical emergency involving a close family member just hours before the stage. Out of respect and privacy, the details have not been publicly disclosed, but Gesink himself later released a statement thanking fans and the cycling community for their support.
A Team’s Silent Struggle
According to Van Aert, the emotional weight of the news profoundly affected the entire team.
“We were climbing that gravel monster [Finestre], legs burning, lungs exploding… but I could feel it in all of us — it wasn’t just about cycling anymore,” Van Aert said. “We were riding with heavy hearts. For Robert. For his family.”
Despite the emotional burden, Team Visma mounted a formidable effort on the Finestre. Sepp Kuss set a blistering tempo on the lower slopes. Van Aert himself attacked with 6 km to go, igniting the kind of excitement fans have come to expect from the Belgian superstar. Although he didn’t take the stage win, his ride symbolized resilience and unity.
“It wasn’t just about tactics or power anymore,” Van Aert said. “It was a tribute.”
Wout van Aert: The Beating Heart of Team Visma
Over the past few years, Wout van Aert has earned a reputation as one of the most versatile and selfless riders in the peloton. Whether pulling for Jonas Vingegaard in the Tour de France, contesting cyclocross championships, or attacking mountain stages like Finestre, he does so with a mix of grit, grace, and humility.
Van Aert, who himself has endured personal challenges throughout his career — from injury setbacks to the pressures of stardom — spoke candidly about the emotional cost of being a professional athlete.
“People see the watts, the wins, the jerseys,” he said. “But there’s so much behind it. We’re people first. And today was a reminder of that.”
He added: “When one of us hurts, we all hurt. That’s what being a team means. That’s what makes cycling special.”
The Peloton Responds
News of the incident spread quickly after the stage, and tributes from around the cycling world poured in. Riders from teams such as Ineos Grenadiers, UAE Team Emirates, and Bora-Hansgrohe expressed solidarity with Gesink and the Visma team. Even race director Mauro Vegni acknowledged the emotional undertone of the day.
“What the Visma riders did today — with the knowledge they were carrying — was more than courageous. It was human,” Vegni said.
Veteran Italian rider Damiano Caruso called it “one of the most emotionally heavy stages” he’s ever witnessed. “We compete hard, but moments like these remind us that we are part of a larger cycling family,” Caruso added.
Looking Ahead
While the Giro d’Italia continues and Visma remains in the hunt for overall glory, Van Aert stressed that perspective was essential.
“There will be more stages, more battles,” he said. “But tonight, we ride for something more important.”
As cycling fans and followers of the sport reflect on what transpired on the slopes of the Finestre, it becomes clear that victories in cycling don’t always come with flowers and podiums. Sometimes, they come in the form of strength through sorrow, of unity in adversity — and of riding on when your heart is breaking.
For Wout van Aert and Team Visma, June 15, 2025, was one such day.