Unknown Tour de France cyclist contemplates sabotaging race for increased popularity: 'Perhaps I must intentionally fail for a larger fanbase'
Belgian Cyclist Vito Braet Aims to Boost Social Media Presence Amid Tour de France
Vito Braet, a lesser-known rider in the cycling world, is currently participating in his first Tour de France. Despite being a part of the Intermarché-Wanty team and specializing in the Classics, Braet is the least followed rider among the 184 participants, with only 1,709 followers on social media.
Hailing from a cycling family, Braet's older brother Vinnie raced professionally but at a lower tier. He has made a name for himself in the cycling community with notable results such as fifth place at the Koksijde Classic and twelfth at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne earlier in 2025, as well as a third-place stage finish in the 2024 Vuelta a España.
Braet's modest social media presence has been a topic of discussion, with the media labelling him as "the most unknown rider of the Tour de France" this year. However, Braet remains self-aware about his limited popularity, jokingly suggesting, "Maybe I need to crash to get more followers."
Despite the humorous remark, Braet is encouraging fans to follow him on Twitter, handle @vito_braet, and aims to surpass the 2,000-follower mark. His social media accounts have been used primarily to share personal and race experiences, helping him gain some attention but still keeping him under the radar for many fans.
While Braet's social media impact on his popularity has been limited, his press demand has been higher than the team's two French riders due to his Classics performances. However, he does not plan to be in the breakaway during the Tour de France.
In the world of cycling, stars like Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel, and Mathieu van der Poel have seven-digit follower counts. In contrast, Braet's followers count remains lower, despite his Classics performances. His teammate Georg Zimmermann gained 400-500 followers after a crash, highlighting the potential impact of high-profile moments on social media presence.
Braet has been signed to Intermarché since the start of the 2024 season, and this is his second season in the WorldTour. His primary role is to protect teammate Biniam Girmay. As the Tour de France continues, Braet will strive to make a mark in the Classics and grow his social media presence organically.
References:
- Cycling News
- Velonews
- Cycling Weekly
- Procycling
Vito Braet, with his focus on the Classics, aims to boost his social media presence, currently the least followed rider among the Tour de France participants. Despite jokingly suggesting a possible crash to gain more followers, he encourages fans to follow him on Twitter, handle @vito_braet, and surpass the 2,000-follower mark.
