Teams & Riders Official Wout Van Aert thread

[magliaroz]

I think overall he's going to be pretty disappointed with his season. I would be surprised if he doesn't make some changes

Gifting that Gent Wevelgem to Laporte doesn't look so good now, I bet.
Another year without winning a Monument and this time even his TdF performaces were not as impressive.
I don't know what he can change to have a better spring, but he better find out soon because VDP, Pogacar and Remco are leaving him in the dust.
His super-dom duties in TdF are somehow affecting his spring preparation? If so, maybe he should forget it for one year, but I'm not sure Jumbo whould like that.

 

[Red Rick]

I really don't think Van Aert regrets gifting Gent Wevelgem.

If he had won GW, the conversations would be exactly the same. GW does not make or save his season.

 

[Salvarani]

I really don't think Van Aert regrets gifting Gent Wevelgem.

If he had won GW, the conversations would be exactly the same. GW does not make or save his season.

It makes it better... and is a prestigous race. It not a nothing race.

 

[Red Rick]

It makes it better... and is a prestigous race. It not a nothing race.

It was a prestigious race when he gifted it. He preferred to gift it than to beat his buddy, and I don't think the reasons changed.

It's probably the 2nd place he regrets the least.

 

[Salvarani]

It was a prestigious race when he gifted it. He preferred to gift it than to beat his buddy, and I don't think the reasons changed.

It's probably the 2nd place he regrets the least.

I dont think nobody said that he regrets it.

 

[Red Rick]

I dont think nobody said that he regrets it.

So if he doesn't regret it, why does it not look so good now?

It really doesn't make a difference for Van Aerts season. His seasons is judged by the biggest fish, not by the moderately sized ones.

 

[Salvarani]

So if he doesn't regret it, why does it not look so good now?

It really doesn't make a difference for Van Aerts season. His seasons is judged by the biggest fish, not by the moderately sized ones.

I would say winning E3 and GW would have been very good, if you dont see it that way there is really no point in talking further about it imo. We disagree, which is fine.

 

[Volderke]

It's probably the 2nd place he regrets the least.

He probably regrets GW the least, from the races he has any reason / chance to regret.
imho, you can't regret races where you tried hard but someone / other riders were simply better (e.g. RVV 2023, WC 2023, Stage 15 in the Tour won by Poels, Milan-San Remo 2023 etc.).

Races he can fully regret not being first are those where there were choices to be made and those choices negatively impacted his chances (races where one can think; who knows if I did this or that or I had some team support, I could have won), e.g. stage 2 in the Tour this year (a bit more help in the end from the team), RVV 2020 (a bit earlier starting the sprint), GW 2023 (the most obvious one), Tokyo Olympics (one more Belgian rider surviving the split, or WvA not trying to control the group like a helicopter mom so he had grew a big target on his back)...

 

[ice&fire]

According to Bakelants, WvA is likely to do the WC gravel in Veneto later this year

"Kans is groot dat Wout van Aert het WK Gravel rijdt"

Staat Wout van Aert zondag 8 oktober aan de start van het WK Gravel in Italiaanse Veneto? Volgens Jan Bakelants, die geregeld met Van Aert traint, lijkt het daar wel op. “Ik denk dat de kans groot is dat hij zich aan het WK Gravel gaat wagen”, zei de oud-prof in de podcast Wuyts en […]

www.wielerflits.nl

Waiting for the news that MvdP joins as well

 

[Red Rick]

I'm wondering if either MvdP or Van Aert are gonna race the European Championship. It's on the VAM berg in NL but I don't know if they're gonna go full crazy on the technical circuit like those few national road races.

 

[KZD]

According to Bakelants, WvA is likely to do the WC gravel in Veneto later this year

"Kans is groot dat Wout van Aert het WK Gravel rijdt"

Staat Wout van Aert zondag 8 oktober aan de start van het WK Gravel in Italiaanse Veneto? Volgens Jan Bakelants, die geregeld met Van Aert traint, lijkt het daar wel op. “Ik denk dat de kans groot is dat hij zich aan het WK Gravel gaat wagen”, zei de oud-prof in de podcast Wuyts en […]

www.wielerflits.nl

Its an interesting choice but I would actually prefer him to race Lombardia, its quite more important than the Gravel Worlds and without the Worlds in late September he could properly prepare for that race and try to save his season.

For Van der Poel though it makes sense to ride if he choose to ride this at least he would have a realistic chance of getting his third World title this season.

 

[Red Rick]

Its an interesting choice but I would actually prefer him to race Lombardia, its quite more important than the Gravel Worlds and without the Worlds in late September he could properly prepare for that race and try to save his season.

For Van der Poel though it makes sense to ride if he choose to ride this at least he would have a realistic chance of getting his third World title this season.

Van Aert wouldn't be Jumbo leader. It makes no sense for him to race it.

 

[topcat]

Van Aert wouldn't be Jumbo leader. It makes no sense for him to race it.

Peak Roglic won the sprint for 4th two years ago, Vingo finished 16th last year. I think Wout should ride Lombardia as Co-leader at least.
I was impressed with his ride in the WRR.

 

[Volderke]

I honestly think Lombardia is too hard for WvA. He can do it all, but it's a race he is very much dependent on others and if they race hard, he will never be able to follow / keep contact with the leaders on the last hill.
It's just too steep / too much, unless he can do a long raid and gets enough of a time gap, but I don't see that happening.
In his best shape, he has a (very) good shot winning Liege but also most likely when anticipating rather than trying to follow on Roche-aux-faucons. Lombardia is even harder / steeper so no good for his heavy diesel.

 

[topcat]

I honestly think Lombardia is too hard for WvA. He can do it all, but it's a race he is very much dependent on others and if they race hard, he will never be able to follow / keep contact with the leaders on the last hill.
It's just too steep / too much, unless he can do a long raid and gets enough of a time gap, but I don't see that happening.
In his best shape, he has a (very) good shot winning Liege but also most likely when anticipating rather than trying to follow on Roche-aux-faucons. Lombardia is even harder / steeper so no good for his heavy diesel.

Probably but we won’t know till he tries it.

 

[Blanco]

So if he doesn't regret it, why does it not look so good now?

It really doesn't make a difference for Van Aerts season. His seasons is judged by the biggest fish, not by the moderately sized ones.

And he's full of them, only one in his lifetime.

 

[Peter von]

I honestly think Lombardia is too hard for WvA. He can do it all, but it's a race he is very much dependent on others and if they race hard, he will never be able to follow / keep contact with the leaders on the last hill.
It's just too steep / too much, unless he can do a long raid and gets enough of a time gap, but I don't see that happening.
In his best shape, he has a (very) good shot winning Liege but also most likely when anticipating rather than trying to follow on Roche-aux-faucons. Lombardia is even harder / steeper so no good for his heavy diesel.

Until the Italians realise Nibbles have retired and begin designing a more Bettiol friendly parcours. After all before they decided that they wanted Nibbles to win it, we had Gilbert winning it.

 

[Blanco]

According to Bakelants, WvA is likely to do the WC gravel in Veneto later this year

"Kans is groot dat Wout van Aert het WK Gravel rijdt"

Staat Wout van Aert zondag 8 oktober aan de start van het WK Gravel in Italiaanse Veneto? Volgens Jan Bakelants, die geregeld met Van Aert traint, lijkt het daar wel op. “Ik denk dat de kans groot is dat hij zich aan het WK Gravel gaat wagen”, zei de oud-prof in de podcast Wuyts en […]

www.wielerflits.nl

Another 2nd place, Bala is riding there

 

[KZD]

Van Aert wouldn't be Jumbo leader. It makes no sense for him to race it.

Who would be Jumbo leader then?

Roglič is planning to finish his season after the Vuelta and I assume Vingegård will do the same. He was second in the Olympic road race on a course that wasn't easier so even if Pogačar is the biggest favourite and a few in shape climbers will be in the mix, Van Aert still has a chance, its not as if he has a guaranteed win waiting for him in the Gravel Worlds either.

 

[Red Rick]

Who would be Jumbo leader then?

Roglič is planning to finish his season after the Vuelta and I assume Vingegård will do the same. He was second in the Olympic road race on a course that wasn't easier so even if Pogačar is the biggest favourite and a few in shape climbers will be in the mix, Van Aert still has a chance, its not as if he has a guaranteed win waiting for him in the Gravel Worlds either.

I've never seen any definitive statement about Roglic not racing after the Vuelta.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Its an interesting choice but I would actually prefer him to race Lombardia, its quite more important than the Gravel Worlds and without the Worlds in late September he could properly prepare for that race and try to save his season.

For Van der Poel though it makes sense to ride if he choose to ride this at least he would have a realistic chance of getting his third World title this season.

Well in all fairness - and despite my own appreciation for gravel racing - the Gravel World Championship really cannot count that much as eg Lombardia. Maybe it could be considered equal to some of the lesser 1D classics?

 

[Peter von]

Who would be Jumbo leader then?

Roglič is planning to finish his season after the Vuelta and I assume Vingegård will do the same. He was second in the Olympic road race on a course that wasn't easier so even if Pogačar is the biggest favourite and a few in shape climbers will be in the mix, Van Aert still has a chance, its not as if he has a guaranteed win waiting for him in the Gravel Worlds either.

If Roglic feels like he has the legs for a proper assault on Lombardia after the Vuelta, I don't see why he would skip it, If Vingegaard is undercooked going into the Vuelta and only finds his legs towards the end, he might give it a go as well, though not as likely.
Roglic skipping the worlds and so far having 0 race days between Giro and Vuelta could likely do very well in Lombardia.

Jumbo could also do dual leadership in Lombardia.

 

[Sciatic]

He probably regrets GW the least, from the races he has any reason / chance to regret.
imho, you can't regret races where you tried hard but someone / other riders were simply better (e.g. RVV 2023, WC 2023, Stage 15 in the Tour won by Poels, Milan-San Remo 2023 etc.).

Races he can fully regret not being first are those where there were choices to be made and those choices negatively impacted his chances (races where one can think; who knows if I did this or that or I had some team support, I could have won), e.g. stage 2 in the Tour this year (a bit more help in the end from the team), RVV 2020 (a bit earlier starting the sprint), GW 2023 (the most obvious one), Tokyo Olympics (one more Belgian rider surviving the split, or WvA not trying to control the group like a helicopter mom so he had grew a big target on his back)...

In 2023, his biggest regret (if he has them—he may not) would be the cross world’s. If he got to that final corner in the lead he could have won the sprint.

 

[Didinho]

I honestly think Lombardia is too hard for WvA. He can do it all, but it's a race he is very much dependent on others and if they race hard, he will never be able to follow / keep contact with the leaders on the last hill.
It's just too steep / too much, unless he can do a long raid and gets enough of a time gap, but I don't see that happening.
In his best shape, he has a (very) good shot winning Liege but also most likely when anticipating rather than trying to follow on Roche-aux-faucons. Lombardia is even harder / steeper so no good for his heavy diesel.

Put Lombardia as 5th stage in the Tour and he'll have a better chance. In a one day race there are more climbers targeting the race. He's better after a couple of hard days, but Lombardia for now seems a bit too hard.

 

[Didinho]

I'm wondering if either MvdP or Van Aert are gonna race the European Championship. It's on the VAM berg in NL but I don't know if they're gonna go full crazy on the technical circuit like those few national road races.

Wout has stated today that he's very interested to ride the EC.