Teams & Riders Official Wout Van Aert thread

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Indeed, he could focus on ITT from Giro to WC ITT, but that might cost him the RR, and if he fails in the ITT, he'll just get 2 podium places again instead of the win.

With Tarling in the mix, his podium days are likely over unless he starts investing time in the TT. Which brings us to how likely he will ever be to win a WCC/Olympic RR even if he doesn't focus on his TT.

Do you think he should spend more time focusing on his Time Trial?

I'm inclined to say yes, considerring some of his career 's biggest wins have been TT's. It might also improve his solo efforts (or inspire him to go solo) because him being able to do bunch sprints is probably the single biggest reason why he hasn't won any major monument or championships. On the one hand, he keeps betting in his sprint (and keeps losing), on the other hand his opponents will either try to drop him because of it (even work together to do so) or force him to do the work since he's "the sprinter".

 

[DNP-Old]

The WCTT was obviously affected by the RR. Pogi went from 6th to 21st. Küng 2nd to 12th.

True, making Remco's win against fresh and healthy Pippo and Tarling all the more impressive.

 

[Berniece]

With Tarling in the mix, his podium days are likely over unless he starts investing time in the TT. Which brings us to how likely he will ever be to win a WCC/Olympic RR even if he doesn't focus on his TT.

Honestly, if everyone is at 100%, he'll never win a TT or a RR. Others will just be better.

 

[Netserk]

True, making Remco's win against fresh and healthy Pippo and Tarling all the more impressive.

He wasn't at the pointy end of the road race, unlike Küng, Pogi and Van Aert.

He was also by far the freshest of the four, not having ridden the Tour.

 

[Blanco]

Indeed, he could focus on ITT from Giro to WC ITT, but that might cost him the RR, and if he fails in the ITT, he'll just get 2 podium places again instead of the win.

What win? In RR? That's a very long shot...
He should focus on both equally.

 

[Pantani_lives]

He might be in a team with Evenepoel and De Lie. He's hoping to get Benoot with him.

 

[Keldergoat]

I'm inclined to say yes, considerring some of his career 's biggest wins have been TT's. It might also improve his solo efforts (or inspire him to go solo) because him being able to do bunch sprints is probably the single biggest reason why he hasn't won any major monument or championships. On the one hand, he keeps betting in his sprint (and keeps losing), on the other hand his opponents will either try to drop him because of it (even work together to do so) or force him to do the work since he's "the sprinter".

I kinda disagree here, although I get your point. WvA has the whole aura of being the eternal second, and focusing on a discipline where he might win a Giro stage, or, at best an Olympic bronze medal only reinforces that image.

I still think WvA has all the qualities to win both MSR (2nd time), PR (he's build for that race) and RvV and in the mean time being an epic stage racer in GTs. That is more prestigious to me, and I think honours his legacy more than some ITT wins in the Tour de Suisse or whatever.

 

[Berniece]

He might be in a team with Evenepoel and De Lie. He's hoping to get Benoot with him.

They shouldn’t bring De Lie

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I kinda disagree here, although I get your point. WvA has the whole aura of being the eternal second, and focusing on a discipline where he might win a Giro stage, or, at best an Olympic bronze medal only reinforces that image.

I still think WvA has all the qualities to win both MSR (2nd time), PR (he's build for that race) and RvV and in the mean time being an epic stage racer in GTs. That is more prestigious to me, and I think honours his legacy more than some ITT wins in the Tour de Suisse or whatever.

He has every bit as much chances to grab gold in the TT (if he trains it) as on the RR. Maybe even more. Last two years he didn't focus on the WCC TT or even forfait. How did that work out for him in the RR?

 

[Keldergoat]

He has every bit as much chances to grab gold in the TT (if he trains it) as on the RR. Maybe even more.

You're serious? Sorry but that's just bollocks. In a day and age of specialization he'll be competing against younger riders that are more tailoring their season towards the TT like Evenepoel, Ganna and Tarling. On 8 out of 10 RR circuits WvA is a top-3 contender, to win the TT worlds he needs not only a perfect day, he needs others to have a sh*te day.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

You're serious? Sorry but that's just bollocks. In a day and age of specialization he'll be competing against younger riders that are more tailoring their season towards the TT like Evenepoel, Ganna and Tarling. On 8 out of 10 RR circuits WvA is a top-3 contender, to win the TT worlds he needs not only a perfect day, he needs others to have a sh*te day.

Complete BS. Last time he focused on the TT, he was 6 seconds slower than Ganna. And even then he still focused more on the RR. You think beating Evenepoel, Van der Poel, Pogacar, Pedersen, Laporte, Pidcock, De Lie... in the RR is easier than beating Ganna, Evenepoel and Tarling in the TT? I sure as hell don't. With a good bike and a focus on the TT, he "can" beat anyone. That doesn't mean he will but he is certainly capable of it without the others crashing, puncturing or having an off day.

And you think that Evenepoel's only focus in a season is the WCC TT? The moment a TT parcours comes along which isn't too flat, he should already have the upper hand on Ganna and Tarling. And why are you acting as if he's 38?

Anyway, you are entitled to your opinion, i don't share it.

 

[Keldergoat]

But even assuming that what you say is true, which I doubt heavily because I would argue that in 2024 there are more riders intrinsicaly better TT'ers (Evenepoel, Tarling), you omit the factor of 'opportunity cost'. Full pull focus on one discipline, hampers the focus and dedication on the other one. If WvA goes full Tony Martin style, and invests his time and efforts into becoming the best time trialist, this will negatively trade off his chances on road races. For me, an overly narrowed focus on a less prestigious discipline like TT'ing would seem quite shortsighted in many ways and I doubt if Visma, even Mathieu Heijboer his personal trainer and TT guru, would consider this.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

But even assuming that what you say is true, which I doubt heavily because I would argue that in 2024 there are more riders intrinsicaly better TT'ers (Evenepoel, Tarling), you omit the factor of 'opportunity cost'. Full pull focus on one discipline, hampers the focus and dedication on the other one. If WvA goes full Tony Martin style, and invests his time and efforts into becoming the best time trialist, this will negatively trade off his chances on road races. For me, an overly narrowed focus on a less prestigious discipline like TT'ing would seem quite shortsighted in many ways and I doubt if Visma, even Mathieu Heijboer his personal trainer and TT guru, would consider this.

Ganna and Tarling will usually also focus in part on the track. Evenepoel will always target a GC in a GT and likely the RR. Had he not decided to skip the TT in 2022... he would already have been WC most likely. He doesn't have to go full R-tard TT in order to have a shot. With just a bit more focus he could have taken the title in 2021 as well.

Van Aert should probably only do the Olympics ITT and only because it's after the road race. Worlds he shouldn't do the ITT, full stop. His window to win the WC ITT has closed.

Evenepoel probably do the ITT at both, but we can't discount the notion that doing the WC ITT will hurt his chances in the WC RR.

Lol

 

[Berniece]

Following days WVA is riding Clasica Almeria, Clasica Jaen, and Volta ao Algarve. He said beforehand that in Almeria they are focussing on Kooij, he'll probably do the leadout. At Jaen he hopes to be with the top competitors due to the gravel sections and the race being quite hard. At Algarve he is mostly focusing on 1-2 stages of which the TT, he won't go for the GC.

Wout van Aert licht seizoensstart toe: "In de Algarve wil ik laatste stap zetten richting topvorm" | sporza

De Clasica Almeria, de Clasica Jaen en de Ronde van de Algarve zijn de komende dagen en week de eerste competitiedagen van Wout van Aert. Zondag cijfert Van Aert zich weg voor Olav Kooij, maandag wil hij "zijn mannetje staan" op het Spaanse gravel en in Portugal zijn er geen klassementsambities.

sporza.be

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Following days WVA is riding Clasica Almeria, Clasica Jaen, and Volta ao Algarve. He said beforehand that in Almeria they are focussing on Kooij, he'll probably do the leadout. At Jaen he hopes to be with the top competitors due to the gravel sections and the race being quite hard. At Algarve he is mostly focusing on 1-2 stages of which the TT, he won't go for the GC.

Wout van Aert licht seizoensstart toe: "In de Algarve wil ik laatste stap zetten richting topvorm" | sporza

De Clasica Almeria, de Clasica Jaen en de Ronde van de Algarve zijn de komende dagen en week de eerste competitiedagen van Wout van Aert. Zondag cijfert Van Aert zich weg voor Olav Kooij, maandag wil hij "zijn mannetje staan" op het Spaanse gravel en in Portugal zijn er geen klassementsambities.

sporza.be

He wants to go for the olympic TT apparently... then i have no idea why he would not do Algarve for GC. Because it will be decided in the TT, and the hilly stages are easy enough for him to stay close. But i know that's what he said, i just don't see what he has to lose going for GC here, since he has a realistic chance of actually winning it (if he has improved his TT position during the winter, which he would have needed in order to perform at the OG).

 

[Berniece]

He wants to go for the olympic TT apparently... then i have no idea why he would not do Algarve for GC. Because it will be decided in the TT, and the hilly stages are easy enough for him to stay close. But i know that's what he said, i just don't see what he has to lose going for GC here, since he has a realistic chance of actually winning it (if he has improved his TT position during the winter, which he would have needed in order to perform at the OG).

I don’t get it either, even more so since I expect him to have quite a high level already. He might say something different after the TT.

 

[hayneplane]

Could be just a case of downplaying expectations to avoid playing a part in building up the Remco vs Wout hype for the overall in this race.

 

[tobydawq]

Honestly, the question for me is why would Van Aert want to go for GC in Algarve rather than why wouldn't he.

Why would anyone ever go for GC?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Honestly, the question for me is why would Van Aert want to go for GC in Algarve rather than why wouldn't he.

Eh, ok. Because he's there "for a couple of stages and the TT". That's basically the same thing. This isn't Tirreno or Dauphiné.

 

[jmdirt]

WOUT!

 

[senna6541]

Unfortunately, Wout is now in the hard place where "winning" doesn't matter unless it's winning RVV, PR, or the WC . Kind've like a team with a history of being great in the regular season but not winning when it counts in the playoffs. Hope he gets one of those wins this year - as long as MVDP gets at least one too.

 

[Blanco]

Unfortunately, Wout is now in the hard place where "winning" doesn't matter unless it's winning RVV, PR, or the WC . Kind've like a team with a history of being great in the regular season but not winning when it counts in the playoffs. Hope he gets one of those wins this year - as long as MVDP gets at least one too.

Yeah, I would gladly takeRoubaix win for Wout, and Ronde for Mathieu + Olympics RR

 

[skippo12]

Unfortunately, Wout is now in the hard place where "winning" doesn't matter unless it's winning RVV, PR, or the WC . Kind've like a team with a history of being great in the regular season but not winning when it counts in the playoffs. Hope he gets one of those wins this year - as long as MVDP gets at least one too.

I prefered the version that was going for the win in every single race on the schedule. Maybe he couldn't hit MVP level super peaks in one day races but it was more entertaining to watch him compete on all terrains and in all kinds of races. I hope that he at least starts to contest sprints again after the classics season is over.

Can only hope that Pog never changes his approach just because Vingegaard is beating him in the Tour.

 

[stonerider]

Yeah, I would gladly takeRoubaix win for Wout, and Ronde for Mathieu + Olympics RR

Wout will flat out in Roubaix unless his team gets him better tires. They should honestly have him on some good 32mm tubeless tires for the cobbles. He's a brunt and doesn't have the same level of finesse on the cobbles as MvdP.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Wout will flat out in Roubaix unless his team gets him better tires. They should honestly have him on some good 32mm tubeless tires for the cobbles. He's a brunt and doesn't have the same level of finesse on the cobbles as MvdP.

Roubaix, Gravel Worlds, the other day on Spanish Gravel (though that was unfortunate)......there's a pattern emerging.......
I've said before, in road racing punctures are called 'unlucky' - but in off-road it's usually poor equipment choice, or rider error.