The legal battle between Wout van Aert and his 2018 team, Veranda`s Willems-Crelan, is almost at an end, while Dutch WorldTour team, LottoNL-Jumbo, have tabled a new multiple-year deal for the talented all-rounder. Van Aert walked away from Veranda`s Willems-Crelan in September after falling out with the team`s management. He had a contract with the team for 2019 but their near collapse and final merger with Roompot for next season created a possible out for Van Aert. In September, Van Aert`s coach, Niels Albert, also left the team for personal reasons, and Van Aert`s relationship with team manager Nick Nuyens continued to deteriorate until Van Aert `unilaterally terminated` his contract with the team on September 18.ADVERTISEMENT The next day, Van Aert`s lawyer, Walter Van Steenbrugge, told Sporza that Van Aert was ready to ride the cyclo-cross season as `an independent rider, as a kind of lonesome cowboy`, reiterating that the talented young Belgian is refusing to pay any form of get-out clause or penalty after terminating his contract. In the last few weeks, Van Aert has raced cyclo-cross but without his team`s name on his jersey. The legal case is still pending the UCI`s decision and ruling on the rider`s contract with Sniper Cycling, which is the paying agent for Veranda`s Willems-Crelan. Until that matter is resolved, Van Aert cannot sign a second contract as this would contravene the UCI`s rules.
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