Teams & Riders Official Wout Van Aert thread

[theyoungest]

Wout is playing with house money at the WC. He loses, "oh well, I've been focusing on the road season anyway", but if he wins, it's a huge shot in the arm and a mental advantage over MvdP coming into the classics.

MVDP is probably more concerned with Tadej Pogacar. At best WVA is his equal (and I'm being very generous to Wout there) but Pogi is simply better, on the climbs in the Tour of Flanders at least.

 

[Red Rick]

Van Aert now getting 2nd in a civil suit, he can truly do it all

 

[Flamin]

Well well, this is really thrilling news for any cyclocross fan. I suppose they took a close look at the course and it's current conditions, and concluded that, no matter how small, he has a shot at winning if the stars align. MVDP likely had less specific cyclocross training than originally planned due to his rib injury, meaning that they are quite level in that regard.

Add a recovered Nys to the equation, and I'm gonna sit down properly for the battle, that's for sure.

 

[AmRacer]

Well well, this is really thrilling news for any cyclocross fan. I suppose they took a close look at the course and it's current conditions, and concluded that, no matter how small, he has a shot at winning if the stars align. MVDP likely had less specific cyclocross training than originally planned due to his rib injury, meaning that they are quite level in that regard.

Add a recovered Nys to the equation, and I'm gonna sit down properly for the battle, that's for sure.

One minute or two?

 

[Flamin]

One minute or two?

No way

 

[Bolder]

I think Wout can rise to the occasion. He gave MvdP a real battle at Hoogerheide in 2023. And there's always the possibility of a flat or mech or crash; so if he's feeling OK, why just let Matthieu have another rainbow jersey?

 

[Keldergoat]

I think Wout can rise to the occasion. He gave MvdP a real battle at Hoogerheide in 2023. And there's always the possibility of a flat or mech or crash; so if he's feeling OK, why just let Matthieu have another rainbow jersey?

Although I agree with you that WvA doesn't have a lot to lose and should go, I wouldn't compare the 2023 MvdP with the one we're seeing right now. That 2023 season WvA had the better of him in 7/10 races, this year I haven't seen anything in the slightest that would indicate that.

 

[Berniece]

Although I agree with you that WvA doesn't have a lot to lose and should go, I wouldn't compare the 2023 MvdP with the one we're seeing right now. That 2023 season WvA had the better of him in 7/10 races, this year I haven't seen anything in the slightest that would indicate that.

Not to mention MVDP came from a very difficult summer

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Nys is going to win cross worlds anyway.

 

[Unchained]

Nys is going to win cross worlds anyway.

Thanks so,so much for writing this!!!!

 

[saunaking]

Kind of a waste, starting in the 4th row. Could the federation not swapped say Eli or Toon's spots on the first row with Wout? I mean its a team event, right?
His win chances were gone after the first corner

 

[MJR]

It really is tough being a Wout fan.

I cheer for both him and vDP, but the gulf between them gets more insurmountable every year. I really hope Wout can pull off a big win this year 'cause the idea of him retiring in 3 or 5 years with only one monument is too depressing to consider.

 

[Sciatic]

It really is tough being a Wout fan.

I cheer for both him and vDP, but the gulf between them gets more insurmountable every year. I really hope Wout can pull off a big win this year 'cause the idea of him retiring in 3 or 5 years with only one monument is too depressing to consider.

I don’t see why today would make it tougher, Wout hasn’t done as much cross this season, is still coming back from injury, and MVDP was always going to be faster in the technical sections —which were fewer in number but created time gaps.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

I don’t see why today would make it tougher, Wout hasn’t done as much cross this season, is still coming back from injury, and MVDP was always going to be faster in the technical sections —which were fewer in number but created time gaps.

To me, Wout looks very determined and confident. Last year beat him up pretty good. I think he is more motivated than ever. Will that matter? Odds say it doesn't, but I think he pulls off a win at Roubaix (blind hope maybe), as the team is going to be very motivated as well, and his help should be better this year (barring stupid stuff happening).

 

[Salvarani]

It really is tough being a Wout fan.

I cheer for both him and vDP, but the gulf between them gets more insurmountable every year. I really hope Wout can pull off a big win this year 'cause the idea of him retiring in 3 or 5 years with only one monument is too depressing to consider.

MSR and PR are his best chances. He is only doing one of them.

 

[Divergence]

He needs to leave the yellow team in order to win

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Wout lost 28 seconds on the first lap and,was faster on the 2nd lap, then lost time on all but the last 2 laps. When you watch it again, Wout lost significant seconds every time he went through the sharp right hand turn after the 2nd off camber before the finish. To think he would have won if he's had a front row start is highly unlikely, but maybe the pressure of actually having someone there causes Mathieu to make a mistake. It's easy to pick any line you want, when there isn't anyone to challenge your position.

All in all, Wout did an amazing ride, and his speed was only off slightly, and a lot of that was lost in the technical sections. Just like a Cubs fan, hope springs eternal, but there is cause for hope, and the Cubs did finally win the penant after a 109 year drought, so hopefully cycling counts baseball years in dog years or something, because Wout is due a big win too. Flanders, Roubaix or Worlds, but I think Roubaix would be the sweetest.

EDIT: He lost 44 seconds on the first lap.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

He needs to leave the yellow team in order to win

This is a really solid take, though ostensibly they have people who should be helpful, it always seems like Wout has nobody late in the race, when it really matters, and this year, he's already down a van Baarle.

 

[Divergence]

This is a really solid take, though ostensibly they have people who should be helpful, it always seems like Wout has nobody late in the race, when it really matters.

It is not even about having teammates. MVDP often does not have teammates but he can perform when it matters. Wout is being used poorly by his team and, in general, his team is pretty bad in creating a good interpersonal environment for productive racing.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

It is not even about having teammates. MVDP often does not have teammates but he can perform when it matters. Wout is being used poorly by his team and, in general, his team is pretty bad in creating a good interpersonal environment for productive racing.

Not as bad as Ineos, but good point. And Mathieu having Philipsen has been pretty key at Roubaix, that and driving your competition into the ditch.

 

[jono]

Wout lost 28 seconds on the first lap and,was faster on the 2nd lap, then lost time on all but the last 2 laps. When you watch it again, Wout lost significant seconds every time he went through the sharp right hand turn after the 2nd off camber before the finish. To think he would have won if he's had a front row start is highly unlikely, but maybe the pressure of actually having someone there causes Mathieu to make a mistake. It's easy to pick any line you want, when there isn't anyone to challenge your position.

Mathieu's first lap was 20 seconds faster than any other rider in any other lap, and 16 seconds faster than his own next best lap. The only lap Wout was faster than Mathieu was lap 3 (not lap 2), when van der Poel was riding a front flat from pit 1 to pit 2. MVDP was faster in every other lap until lap 7 and 8 when he was clearly off the gas.

Given that, it's hard to imagine even a front row Wout puts much pressure on him, largely as you note due to van der Poel's immense technical advantages.

 

[ChewbaccaDefense]

Mathieu's first lap was 20 seconds faster than any other rider in any other lap, and 16 seconds faster than his own next best lap. The only lap Wout was faster than Mathieu was lap 3 (not lap 2), when van der Poel was riding a front flat from pit 1 to pit 2. MVDP was faster in every other lap until lap 7 and 8 when he was clearly off the gas.

Given that, it's hard to imagine even a front row Wout puts much pressure on him, largely as you note due to van der Poel's immense technical advantages.

Not according to Wout's numbers on Strava, but I recognize that Strava has, what's the word, imperfect timing...But that's where I got the info, as Mathieu's times were shown every time he crossed, and nobody else's were. Also, Wout was really fighting traffic on the 2nd lap, which to me lends to the impressivness of his ride.

 

[jono]

Not according to Wout's numbers on Strava, but I recognize that Strava has, what's the word, imperfect timing...But that's where I got the info, as Mathieu's times were shown every time he crossed, and nobody else's were. Also, Wout was really fighting traffic on the 2nd lap, which to me lends to the impressivness of his ride.

Official lap times.

 

[Breh]

That's 13 silver medals in championships in road racing and CX.
Olympics, Worlds, Euros and Belgian championships.

MVDP has 2

 

[Salvarani]

That's 13 silver medals in championships in road racing and CX.
Olympics, Worlds, Euros and Belgian championships.

MVDP has 2

He has more in common with MVDPs grandfather than what MVDP has, except for DNA of course.