Teams & Riders Official Wout Van Aert thread

[theyoungest]

Yeah, I get that - and Flamin's points as well - but Van Aert simply hasn't won enough big races to have the privilege to skip Milan-Sanremo. He has one monument win in his career, and should aim to get as many more as possible, whether that's Flanders, Roubaix or Sanremo.

I think he'd gladly trade his MSR win for a win in Flanders. He's never managed to be at his very best there, for multiple reasons. But doing MSR first hasn't really helped him, that's for sure.

The problem is that the focus is now so much on Flanders and Roubaix that the pressure to be good there almost becomes too high. MVDP has more of a "que sera, sera" approach which seems to work much better.

 

[AmRacer]

I don't have a Belgian hat. My favourite riders since I started watching cycling were Petacchi, Valverde, Nibali, MVDP and Evenepoel.

Of the active riders, one half Belgian and one Belgian.......

 

[KZD]

Yeah, I get that - and Flamin's points as well - but Van Aert simply hasn't won enough big races to have the privilege to skip Milan-Sanremo. He has one monument win in his career, and should aim to get as many more as possible, whether that's Flanders, Roubaix or Sanremo.

Exactly, Van Aert has just a single monument win in his career, I get that winning Flanders or Roubaix is more important for him but winning the same monument twice is still better than only once and while its far from certain that he would win Sanremo, he would have a better chance than in Flanders.

Even if we look beyond Van Aert, Visma hasn't won any monument in the last four years, in the hilly monuments they don't have anyone to challenge Pogačar or even Remco so, in my opinion, they should send their best classics rider to the other three.

 

[Flamin]

Glad to see you again, I thought you had deactivated your account.

Cheers

I did actually, but apparently it could be activated again.

 

[ingsve]

Even if we look beyond Van Aert, Visma hasn't won any monument in the last four years, in the hilly monuments they don't have anyone to challenge Pogačar or even Remco so, in my opinion, they should send their best classics rider to the other three.

Nordhagen masterclass incoming.

 

[jono]

Hopefully his Giro-Tour double goes better than MVDP's ill-fated attempt in 2022.

 

[meat puppet]

I think he'd gladly trade his MSR win for a win in Flanders. He's never managed to be at his very best there, for multiple reasons. But doing MSR first hasn't really helped him, that's for sure.

The problem is that the focus is now so much on Flanders and Roubaix that the pressure to be good there almost becomes too high. MVDP has more of a "que sera, sera" approach which seems to work much better.

What about 2020? It was an uncommon year, but he was very close to his best, I'd say. Solo strade and almost won rvv, for example.

Otherwise I agree.

 

[Red Rick]

Sure, let's skip the monument you're most likely to win.

 

[RobertCrawley]

As Salvarini says its all about Flanders and Roubaix for him this year,nothing else seems to currently matter.

Every year these matter the most.

 

[Salvarani]

Every year these matter the most.

Matters yes, but the best Van Aert has mostly been seen in the Tour no? He has not been at his best in these races. Crashes, health or just not peaking his form at the main events.

He also missed Ronde in both 2022 and 2024. His only podium is that one in 2020, despite winning almost every other Belgian cobbles race.

He definitely has unfinished business at PR as well, I would say, with his terrible luck there.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Both of them (MVP and WVA) are afraid of Pogacar. They want to be 100% ready for Ronde and pray to be even with a 96/97% Pogacar

 

[Red Rick]

Seriously, after 2024 learning nothing from that and skipping Sanremo again seems like an especially boneheaded move.

 

[James M]

Seriously, after 2024 learning nothing from that and skipping Sanremo again seems like an especially boneheaded move.

Why? He knows from experience he has been subpar the other two with the usuall approach, so changing it up putting all eggs into one basket in order to maybe in his/their head make up the deficit? How that dumb, unless your saying he should just give up. You would complain eitherway if he didnt win.

I mean cant blame a man for only trying, desperate times calls for desperate measures, nothing boneheaded about it.

 

[Netserk]

Seriously, after 2024 learning nothing from that and skipping Sanremo again seems like an especially boneheaded move.

Fools are damned to be fools.

 

[Sciatic]

It's such a weird decision to not do Milan-Sanremo. I just don't get that.

Couldn't agree more. Weird to have the best classics riders (others have done it as well) skipping monuments and other important (Strade) classics.

 

[Sciatic]

Because teams are obsessed with altitude training camps.

Unfortunately true. And the reason for that can't be discussed in this forum.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Last time Van Aert skipped MSR and did this sort of thing he was the strongest imo in Roubaix, he did everything right that race and got screwed in in the end.

 

[Red Rick]

Why? He knows from experience he has been subpar the other two with the usuall approach, so changing it up putting all eggs into one basket in order to maybe in his/their head make up the deficit? How that dumb, unless your saying he should just give up. You would complain eitherway if he didnt win.

I mean cant blame a man for only trying, desperate times calls for desperate measures, nothing boneheaded about it.

Usual approach being COVID or crashing out?

There's plenty of things you can try without skipping Sanremo.

Generally, when you race the same schedule as everyone, then scheduling should not be your problem.

I would much sooner experiment with skipping Tirreno and coming down from altitude right before Sanremo.

 

[Flamin]

Last time Van Aert skipped MSR and did this sort of thing he was the strongest imo in Roubaix, he did everything right that race and got screwed in in the end.

I suppose you mean in 2023? He was 3rd in Sanremo that year. Van Aert only skipped Sanremo once, last year.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Last time Van Aert skipped MSR and did this sort of thing he was the strongest imo in Roubaix, he did everything right that race and got screwed in in the end.

No, last time he skipped MSR to be in peak shape in Flanders and Roubaix, he didn't get to ride either of them.

 

[Tim Cahill]

I suppose you mean in 2023? He was 3rd in Sanremo that year. Van Aert only skipped Sanremo once, last year.

Oh yeah, no idea why I misremembered that, I thought it was last year he punctured, losing it, ignore me.

 

[James M]

Usual approach being COVID or crashing out?

2023 he was dropped like a stone and even in E3 same year they toyed with him even tho he won the sprint they clearly coulda dropped him if that was RVV and he hang on for dear life while they watched eachother tested the waters, was the most obvious *** that they would in RVV, especially when Pogacar was there.
Lets cut to the case of the matter he knows he dont have had the numbers (particular only RVV) and therefore trying everything he possible can to make up, I dont blame the man for trying everything possible in order to make up that deficit, its even respectable.

I just dont get this negative andy outlook on everyhing. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result its called being a fool, at least he tries give the man props imo, im sure he dont drop MSR and scream of joy beacuse of it or honestly do you?

There's plenty of things you can try without skipping Sanremo.

I would much sooner experiment with skipping Tirreno and coming down from altitude right before Sanremo.

Sure and agreed. But I can only think of surely that has have had to be on the wall as an option for them? as its zero other reasons for them to drop MSR, surely the last choice but only choice which yields the best %. I assume its a good reason for it as in theory I agree with you 100% there, and granted to your point they can be fools and be wrong and other options are viable, sure.

My point is merely on the basis I cant fault the man for trying everything in his power to make up a deficit in order to win his biggest goal/dream and nothing else, I respect him for it even, whatever if he rides MSR or not at least something has to give and try something.

 

[Red Rick]

I think 2023 RVV is still living rent free in Van Aerts head when that entire race was a clusterfuck with every variable turning out stupid for him.

I really think he has more to gain by being shameless and trying to do less work than MvdP and Pogacar rather than doing the same amount of work and then dying later because he doesn't have the same fatigue resistance and exposivity

 

[hayneplane]

I think 2023 RVV is still living rent free in Van Aerts head when that entire race was a clusterfuck with every variable turning out stupid for him.

I really think he has more to gain by being shameless and trying to do less work than MvdP and Pogacar rather than doing the same amount of work and then dying later because he doesn't have the same fatigue resistance and exposivity

I agree that it would be in his best interests to do that but he has too much pride and honour to pull out a page of the Rui Costa book of tactics.

 

[Red Rick]

I just dont get this negative andy outlook on everyhing. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result its called being a fool, at least he tries give the man props imo, im sure he dont drop MSR and scream of joy beacuse of it or honestly do you?

Sure and agreed. But I can only think of surely that has have had to be on the wall as an option for them? as its zero other reasons for them to drop MSR, surely the last choice but only choice which yields the best %. I assume its a good reason for it as in theory I agree with you 100% there.

My point is merely on the basis I cant fault the man for trying everything in his power to make up a deficit in order to win his biggest goal/dream and nothing else, I respect him for it whatever if he rides MSR or not at least something has to give and try something.

I don't blame him for trying to win de Ronde or PR, I'm blaming him for sacrificing his best shot at winning a monument next year.

And it's not like I don't respect van Aert, I just really don't respect this specific decision. I actually would very much like for him to win RvV and PR, and it sometimes only appears I dislike him a lot because I can't help but disagree when people get argumentative about him being at the level of MvdP or those guys - at various times.