Teams & Riders Official Wout Van Aert thread

[red_flanders]

I think the argument at the time was that Jumbo shouldn't have worked to control the break, but just had let the break contest the stage.

Yes, the argument was that they were burning too many matches. Which to some was clearly bunk at the time, and turned out to be bunk in hindsight.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Congratulations for winning green on this Tour edition and for some monstrous performances. Fully deserved.

 

[Arked]

Totally unfair and oversimplified comparison. Van Aert was in the attack from km 0, was in the lead all day and also regularly did head work in the ever shrinking leading group. As during many other stages. If Poga or Vingegaard had done the same, they would have reached a maximum of 5 w/kg on the ascent of the Hautacam. They would also have had bad days in between.

Which does not mean that if Van Aert were the only leader in a team, he would be able to finish every day at full capacity and without a breakdown.

Of course, but you seem to miss my point. It's likely my fault for not phrasing it correctly. I brought those numbers to showcase that he didn't do comparable numbers to Vingegaard and Pogacar on the last 2 climbs, even though he rode with them and finished not far behind. It was great performance but nothing mutant or abnormal. Also I think he will never be able to successfully race against "6.5wkg" climbers when they're going full gas. Fresh or not. It's not going to happen. I hope you know what I meant right now.

As of him losing more weight. He is already very lean. He would hurt himself by doing that. I hope he'll never go this route because this is dangerous.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Wouts best performances climbing are in the 5.7 w/kg range. Which is good, but obviously not good enough to win the Tour. Could easily top 10 though if he was a leader

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Wouts best performances climbing are in the 5.7 w/kg range. Which is good, but obviously not good enough to win the Tour. Could easily top 10 though if he was a leader

I think IF he were ever to go for GC, that he would do specific training and ignore sprinting, lose weight etc... which would automatically improve his w/kg obviously. I doubt Wiggins ever put out better numbers before he focussed on GC.

 

[bill1109]

Congratulations for winning green on this Tour edition and for some monstrous performances. Fully deserved.

Strongest rider in the race...it is incredible to see all that he did...didn't win GC, but still the strongest rider. Interesting to see how cycling is changing....said this days ago...now hearing Johan, Lance et al saying they dont understand current cycling that is true...its because its changing...i hope WVA never goes for GC and takes that bait....he is too good and well rounded for it...and most important, probably paid more anyway.

 

[Oldermanish]

I think IF he were ever to go for GC, that he would do specific training and ignore sprinting, lose weight etc... which would automatically improve his w/kg obviously. I doubt Wiggins ever put out better numbers before he focussed on GC.

Per what Arked said previously; he may not be able to do that and get the results. Your IF was appropriate considering everything he's been able to accomplish and should be able to do again could be jeopardized. He is a pro that's seriously paid for the variety of skills he has. This Tour proved him to be legendary.

 

[Oldermanish]

Strongest rider in the race...it is incredible to see all that he did...didn't win GC, but still the strongest rider. Interesting to see how cycling is changing....said this days ago...now hearing Johan, Lance et al saying they dont understand current cycling that is true...its because its changing...i hope WVA never goes for GC and takes that bait....he is too good and well rounded for it...and most important, probably paid more anyway.

Lance and Johann deserve to be ignored. What they "understood" about cycling was skewed so badly by their pursuit of glory as to question any position they'd take. That they would slither back to make a buck in the sport with their advice is what it is; sleazy.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I think IF he were ever to go for GC, that he would do specific training and ignore sprinting, lose weight etc... which would automatically improve his w/kg obviously. I doubt Wiggins ever put out better numbers before he focussed on GC.

but this could come at a price for consistency or struggling with energy. As to lose weight he'd have to eat less as well. There are plenty who tried with weight loss and did not have the results Wiggins had. So there is no guarantee..

Dennis and Martin climb attempts ultimately failed because they can't cope with the lack of energy that comes with having a lower weight.

 

[senna6541]

Are you folks really buying JV and Wout at this point?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Are you folks really buying JV and Wout at this point?

Let me guess, if it were a certain other rider, you would be singing high praises and use it as proof of how good he is.

but this could come at a price for consistency or struggling with energy. As to lose weight he'd have to eat less as well. There are plenty who tried with weight loss and did not have the results Wiggins had. So there is no guarantee..

Dennis and Martin climb attempts ultimately failed because they can't cope with the lack of energy that comes with having a lower weight.

Dennis doesn't have the same engine as Van Aert, nor the stamina. Even before he tried his luck as a GC rider, and now that they are at the same team it is even more apparent. When did Martin ever climb anywhere near the level of Van Aert?

I'm not saying there couldn't be issues, that it would certainly be a resounding success. But quoting w/kg from a guy who is also doing bunch sprints and cobbled raids at the same time is simply not representative of his actual potential.

But he said he's not thinking about it, so we'll never know. But if guys like Wiggins and Dumoulin were able to be successful, it's very possibly, if not likely, that Van Aert would too. By successful i don't necessarily mean winning the TDF, but at least being a solid contender.

 

[senna6541]

Maybe so Logic - but I hope not. I don't have that problem though, because compared to the silliness we are seeing from JV and Wout, MVDP looks incredibly human. JV and Wout have blown it at this point. Can't take anything they do seriously from here on out. Sucks too, because they have their hand in more than just the grand tours - so one day classics and cx races they enter are spoiled now too. I've gone along with Wout's mysterious ability to do pretty well in the high mountains in the past, but we are well beyond that now. Let's just say he has clearly benefited from joining JV - they are US Postal/Discover level "professional". If you are buying this BS then you don't know as much about cycling as I thought you did.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Maybe so Logic - but I hope not. I don't have that problem though, because compared to the silliness we are seeing from JV and Wout, MVDP looks incredibly human. JV and Wout have blown it at this point. Can't take anything they do seriously from here on out. Sucks too, because they have their hand in more than just the grand tours - so one day classics and cx races they enter are spoiled now too. I've gone along with Wout's mysterious ability to do pretty well in the high mountains in the past, but we are well beyond that now. Let's just say he has clearly benefited from joining JV - they are US Postal/Discover level "professional". If you are buying this BS then you don't know as much about cycling as I thought you did.

But maybe i know more about the human condition than you think. See, i think you are simply looking for an alibi, an excuse to dismiss him. So, in that way he will never be a contender for your sweetie pie, because the only way to beat him is to be dirty. That way Mathieu remains the best rider and you can rest assured that he always will, because the only guy that was better, was dirty.

It's interesting though, because we're getting shitposts by guys thinking what he's done isn't really that impressive. And on the other hand we have shitposts insinuating what he's done is so far off the charts that he has to be doped.

 

[Unchained]

This guy is a devastating talent..I am sure that many racers are going to tie in his utter awesomeness on a cyclocross bike w his power and talent..many people are going to ride cyclocross to get the benefits..

 

[houtdffan]

I think IF he were ever to go for GC, that he would do specific training and ignore sprinting, lose weight etc... which would automatically improve his w/kg obviously. I doubt Wiggins ever put out better numbers before he focussed on GC.

Wiggins couldn't get over a freeway overpass until the 2009 giro

As for VA, he should come into the tour next year 2 lbs lighter. That would ensure he can provide Vingegaard the needed mountain support throughout the tour (maybe even being the final mountain dom before the attacks occur)

 

[Axel Hangleck]

This guy is a devastating talent..I am sure that many racers are going to tie in his utter awesomeness on a cyclocross bike w his power and talent..many people are going to ride cyclocross to get the benefits..

They're not. He's not good just because he does CX, he's just good full stop. I hope to see more riders giving it a try, but I can't see it.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

They're not. He's not good just because he does CX, he's just good full stop. I hope to see more riders giving it a try, but I can't see it.

Maybe more riders will give it a try, but not at that level. Just as a part of their winter prep. Like Pogacar has done some mild CX in the winter, but nowhere near the level to compete at the worldcup or worldchampionship.

 

[stonerider]

Maybe so Logic - but I hope not. I don't have that problem though, because compared to the silliness we are seeing from JV and Wout, MVDP looks incredibly human. JV and Wout have blown it at this point. Can't take anything they do seriously from here on out. Sucks too, because they have their hand in more than just the grand tours - so one day classics and cx races they enter are spoiled now too. I've gone along with Wout's mysterious ability to do pretty well in the high mountains in the past, but we are well beyond that now. Let's just say he has clearly benefited from joining JV - they are US Postal/Discover level "professional". If you are buying this BS then you don't know as much about cycling as I thought you did.

MvdP looks incredibly human right now because he lacks focus and discipline in racing and training. Wout is mentally stronger than MvdP which gives him more focus and discipline. MvdP would be as good as Wout if he had the same mental fortitude.

 

[limak_]

Maybe more riders will give it a try, but not at that level. Just as a part of their winter prep. Like Pogacar has done some mild CX in the winter, but nowhere near the level to compete at the worldcup or worldchampionship.

It's a totally different thing doing CX just from the moment you learned how to ride a bike and starting doing it as a road racer as a part of winter prep that you can potentially benefit from. Also Pogi did lots of CX during his junior and younger categories times. Doing CX in winter by roadies is in fact an old school approach, but I doubt riders with x years of road experience would suddenly benefit from it that much.
I think WvA and MvdP would've been exceptional riders no matter they had ever done CX or not, although it was surely beneficial for them and it shaped many of their qualities.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

MvdP looks incredibly human right now because he lacks focus and discipline in racing and training. Wout is mentally stronger than MvdP which gives him more focus and discipline. MvdP would be as good as Wout if he had the same mental fortitude.

I think he would be better at certain things, but worse at others. In racing style he is closer to Alaphilippe than he is to Van Aert. In certain physical traits as well imho.

 

[Valv.Piti]

Most dominating performance through 3 weeks I have ever seen. Forget RoboBasso, this is consistency on every single stage in 3 weeks in different terrain and different team roles. Amazing, Woutie, simply amazing!

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

Maybe so Logic - but I hope not. I don't have that problem though, because compared to the silliness we are seeing from JV and Wout, MVDP looks incredibly human. JV and Wout have blown it at this point. Can't take anything they do seriously from here on out. Sucks too, because they have their hand in more than just the grand tours - so one day classics and cx races they enter are spoiled now too. I've gone along with Wout's mysterious ability to do pretty well in the high mountains in the past, but we are well beyond that now. Let's just say he has clearly benefited from joining JV - they are US Postal/Discover level "professional". If you are buying this BS then you don't know as much about cycling as I thought you did.

Chill out, the French will mug him again at the Worlds RR and someone will figure out how to beat him at RVV and P-R.

 

[KZD]

I know that Grand Tour time trials are very different from one day time trials but this win over Ganna will surely give him motivation before the World Championships

 

[Finn84]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1550870258541633536

View: https://twitter.com/PrixAntargaz/status/1550870258541633536

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

MvdP looks incredibly human right now because he lacks focus and discipline in racing and training.

He looks human right now because he has a chronic back injury that mucks up his ability to plan out a season. When he’s healthy he’s just as big a freak, one with heavily overlapping but not identical talents.