Teams & Riders Official Wout Van Aert thread

[Salvarani]

For the Giro, Van Aert is a big catch.

Yeah, but what is the motive?

The journalist himself really wants to see Van Aert at the Giro, so he just made it up. Sure, cool.

 

[theyoungest]

The journalist himself really wants to see Van Aert at the Giro, so he just made it up. Sure, cool.

Yes, that's actually how it works in cycling journalism. The bar isn't very high.

 

[Salvarani]

Yes, that's actually how it works in cycling journalism. The bar isn't very high.

Ok.

 

[scribers]

Bicycling.com now speculating WVA will ride the giro. They also think he’s aiming for GC. Aliphillippe has a better chance of winning the giro

 

[SafeBet]

Yes, that's actually how it works in cycling journalism. The bar isn't very high.

Gazzetta is trash but Ciro is normally a very reliable source, has great connections inside the peloton and with the foreign media. I wouldn't be so sure this is made up.

 

[senna6541]

Wout’s chief rivals have figured him out just enough these days. Don’t go to the line with him. Get away a little earlier and be strong enough to stay away

Wout has one chief rival, and unfortunately for Wout, that guy has never had to "figure him out". He's been beating him regularly since they were kids.

 

[noob]

Awkward Wout with Rigo in Colombia is so awkwardly funny

https://twitter.com/x/status/1723235375823355945

 

[Escarabajo]

Awkward Wout with Rigo in Colombia is so awkwardly funny

https://twitter.com/x/status/1723235375823355945

With Pogacar there was wife swab. He looks to be having too much fun!

 

[noob]

With Pogacar there was wife swab. He looks to be having too much fun!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1723241371987739064

View: https://twitter.com/BikeBlz/status/1723241371987739064

 

[jono]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1723727538592022739

View: https://twitter.com/Cyclingbottle/status/1723727538592022739


Wout's very modest CX calendar (5 or 6 races) leaked and reported by HLN. A sign of increased focus on early season classics (+ Giro)?

 

[Boes]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1723727538592022739

View: https://twitter.com/Cyclingbottle/status/1723727538592022739


Wout's very modest CX calendar (5 or 6 races) leaked and reported by HLN. A sign of increased focus on early season classics (+ Giro)?

A pitty he doesn't CX more. That always brightens my sunday afternoons in december and january.
But a logical step if he wants to be 100% on the road.

Although I kind of think we'll never see the 2021 an 2022 Tour de France Van aert again. That was his peak.
Hope I'm wrong!

 

[stonerider]

Although I kind of think we'll never see the 2021 an 2022 Tour de France Van aert again. That was his peak.
Hope I'm wrong!

I think you're right. The older you get, after your peak (maybe age 28), the more frugal you have to be with your matches (race winning efforts). He used a lot of matches last winter battling MvdP on the CX courses. He needs to save some of those matches for the Spring classics if he wants to perform better on the road. A few CX races per year are good for the bike handling skills and intensity to break up the base mile training. Hopefully he has a better spring road campaign with this reduced CX schedule.

 

[Barkintheeye]

I think you're right. The older you get, after your peak (maybe age 28), the more frugal you have to be with your matches (race winning efforts). He used a lot of matches last winter battling MvdP on the CX courses. He needs to save some of those matches for the Spring classics if he wants to perform better on the road. A few CX races per year are good for the bike handling skills and intensity to break up the base mile training. Hopefully he has a better spring road campaign with this reduced CX schedule.

I have always routed for Van der Poel but this coming spring season I really hope Van Aert can get some big wins. He is a great rider and a fighter and hopefully a more modest CX will help him!

 

[Berniece]

I have always routed for Van der Poel but this coming spring season I really hope Van Aert can get some big wins. He is a great rider and a fighter and hopefully a more modest CX will help him!

I'm in dubio about it. I really think he deserves a big win, but I also really like to see my family and friends lose. They are big WVA fans, but they *** on MVDP.

 

[Berniece]

In an interview with mundociclistico, WVA confirmed his main goal for 2024 will be the Giro d'Italia.

—¿Cuál es su máximo objetivo para 2024?
Principalmente el Giro de Italia

— What is your biggest goal for 2024?
Mainly the Giro d'Italia

¿Y….Quién es él? Es Wout Van Aert

Es muy probable que el ciclista belga Wout Van Aert regrese a su país después de estar en Colombia– más exactamente en la pequeña y turística población de Ricaurte y sus alrededores – con motivo de su presencia como invitado especial al Giro de Rigo, totalmente sorprendido y seguramente sin...

www.revistamundociclistico.com

 

[SafeBet]

In an interview with mundociclistico, WVA confirmed his main goal for 2024 will be the Giro d'Italia.

¿Y….Quién es él? Es Wout Van Aert

Es muy probable que el ciclista belga Wout Van Aert regrese a su país después de estar en Colombia– más exactamente en la pequeña y turística población de Ricaurte y sus alrededores – con motivo de su presencia como invitado especial al Giro de Rigo, totalmente sorprendido y seguramente sin...

www.revistamundociclistico.com

And I doubt he's riding the Giro for stages if that's his main goal of the season

 

[markene2]

If he is going for the GC its a mistake to also focus on the classics, seen it again and again its hard to maintain the peak from the classics and the entire giro. see evans and vino 2010 giro

 

[pastronef]

Wiggo did it, Dumo did it, Thomas did it, WVA can do it.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Wiggo did it, Dumo did it, Thomas did it, WVA can do it.

Did what?
None of Wiggins, Thomas or TomDum combined a successful cobble classic campaign with success in the giro in the same year.

 

[Berniece]

I can see him going purely for the Giro and skipping the classics. He might think MVDP and Pogacar might get saturated of it after this year, and thinks he has a bigger chance in 2025. Or he just wants to challenge himself and try to go for a new goal.

EDIT: Just read an article his new coach is Mathieu Heijboer, which also indicates he will go for the GC in the Giro.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

I guess 3rd place at Giro d'italia general classement is better than 3rd place at Flanders

 

[pastronef]

Did what?
None of Wiggins, Thomas or TomDum combined a successful cobble classic campaign with success in the giro in the same year.

I meant becoming a GC rider, I didn't mean cobbles + Giro.

 

[theyoungest]

Wiggo did it, Dumo did it, Thomas did it, WVA can do it.

Dumoulin is no comparison. He was way lighter than Van Aert is, he didn't have to lose much weight to become a GC rider. I don't know about Thomas' weight but he never looked all that big either. I don't think GC will be the goal, or maybe in a YOLO kind of way. But I think Van Aert's climbing is a little overrated. Because he can climb quite well from breakaways doesn't mean that he can do it day after day against the best climbers in the race.

 

[pastronef]

Dumoulin is no comparison. He was way lighter than Van Aert is, he didn't have to lose much weight to become a GC rider. I don't know about Thomas' weight but he never looked all that big either. I don't think GC will be the goal, or maybe in a YOLO kind of way. But I think Van Aert's climbing is a little overrated. Because he can climb quite well from breakaways doesn't mean that he can do it day after day against the best climbers in the race.

partially agree about Dumo. he was a strong, and not light for sure, member of the Kittel train. Thomas and Wiggins were strong and heavy for racing on the track. WVA will have to shed weight, and he can do it. I think Jumbo saw what he did during the Hautacam 2022 stage (and the whole TDF) and knew he can do it. Jumbo can make him do it.
it's Sky 2.0, but faster

 

[scribers]

This giro thing is good news for other lease a bike classics riders as wva won’t have to let them win races now