Wout van Aert wins stage 2 at the Tour of Denmark(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Wout Van Aert competes at the Belgian Road Championships(Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Wout Van Aert (Belgium) finished third at the European Championships(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Wout van Aert stayed well protected early in the race (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Wout Van Aert (Verandas Willems Crelan) tests the muddy pavé of Paris-Roubaix(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
World cyclo-cross champion and rising road star Wout van Aert has "unilaterally terminated" his contract with Sniper Cycling, the owning company of the Veranda's Willems-Crelan team, according to a statement released by the company.
Sniper Cycling, owned by former pro Nick Nuyens, released a press statement in the early hours of Tuesday morning with the news that Van Aert had decided to end his contract.
"Wout van Aert has unilaterally terminated his contract with Sniper Cycling on Monday evening September 17, 2018," it read. "This decision came despite the fact that the team management tried to unblock the situation last week, e.g. by offering him an improved contract for 2019.
"Van Aert did not accept this proposal and has opted to terminate his contract unilaterally with immediate effect. The team management regrets that decision.
"This matter is now in the hands of our counselors [sic]. No further comment will be made in the meantime.
"However, as pointed out repeatedly, we wish to clarify that we will be a ProContinental cycling team in 2019 regardless."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.
