Former Sagan Rival Faces Troubles: Belgian Cyclist Must Compensate His Former Team

BRUSSELS – Cyclist Wout Van Aert is required to pay his former team €662,000 in compensation for the wrongful termination of his 2018 contract.

The final verdict was issued by a Belgian court, which upheld the decision of the labor court from June 2021, bringing an end to the lengthy legal dispute. This was reported by the Belga news agency.

The former Belgian champion ended his collaboration with the Vérandas Willems-Crelan team, owned by Sniper Cycling, in the fall of 2018. He began the 2019 road season with Jumbo-Visma. The rider cited “serious failures” and “absolutely unacceptable practices” as the reasons for his departure, which, according to his lawyers, made any further cooperation impossible.

Sniper Cycling filed a lawsuit against Van Aert over his departure, demanding €1.1 million in compensation from the three-time cyclocross world champion and Olympic and World Championship medalist in road cycling.