Teams & Riders Official Wout Van Aert thread

[Carrick-On-Seine]

Has he held a press conference yet to say he is the sole leader of the Belgian team for Fayetteville?

 

[Unchained]

Saw him beef it in a recent cyclocross race..not that hard, but hard enough to dig the pedal and chaining into his cheek, tore his shorts, got up and still destroyed the field..his in the saddle power is extraordinary..the guy is really a monster..if he says he wants a green jersey or is peaking for a classic, I would be scared. I love watching him race, I think his body type and size, horsepower from his motor are awesome..Tom Boonen who?

 

[Unchained]

I know it's make believe but I wonder what Tony Martin's career would have looked like if the two would have been teammates of a similar age..both great racers w incredible power and speed..I have never read anything about what teammates took away from Martin's TT expertise but I am sure it was helpful

 

[noob]

So the reason Van Aert wants to go for green is Van der Poel are going for green?

 

[Bonimenier]

So the reason Van Aert wants to go for green is Van der Poel are going for green?

I doubt van der Poel will go for green. But if he is, it's the other way around. Van Aert has been saying for a long time he wants to go for green. Recently van der Poel mentioned he might do as well.

 

[noob]

I doubt van der Poel will go for green. But if he is, it's the other way around. Van Aert has been saying for a long time he wants to go for green. Recently van der Poel mentioned he might do as well.

It was mentioned on todays cyclocross they both will go for green and it made me realize next year might be as much about green as about yellow.

 

[stonerider]

Barring accidents or illness, MvdP doesn't stand a chance against Wout going for the green jersey at the TdF. After the 1st week MvdP will be battling fatigue while Wout will hold his form.

 

[Bonimenier]

Barring accidents or illness, MvdP doesn't stand a chance against Wout going for the green jersey at the TdF. After the 1st week MvdP will be battling fatigue while Wout will hold his form.

I don't think fatigue will be the issue (and also don't understand where this narrative comes from). Positioning in real bunch sprint and Philipsen or Merlier participating are way more likely reasons for him to not be close in the points classification.

 

[stonerider]

I don't think fatigue will be the issue (and also don't understand where this narrative comes from). Positioning in real bunch sprint and Philipsen or Merlier participating are way more likely reasons for him to not be close in the points classification.

MvdP has never done a 3 week stage race...and anytime he's gone hard in a ONE week race his form has decreased the weeks after. It's easy to see he can't hold a candle to Wout in a 3 week race.

 

[Bonimenier]

MvdP has never done a 3 week stage race...and anytime he's gone hard in a ONE week race his form has decreased the weeks after. It's easy to see he can't hold a candle to Wout in a 3 week race.

This year he wasn't worse than van Aert after TA. Last year he was excellent after going full in the Benelux Tour. Those were pretty much the only 2 times he raced shortly after riding a high level 1 week race. How is it easy to see if he has never done a full GT?

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

This year he wasn't worse than van Aert after TA. Last year he was excellent after going full in the Benelux Tour. Those were pretty much the only 2 times he raced shortly after riding a high level 1 week race. How is it easy to see if he has never done a full GT?

Van Aert went all out in the Tireno, every day. Van der Poel didn't, so you can't really use that argument. If he wants to commit to green, he needs to commit fully and score points on a daily basis. So, that in fact is still an unknown for him, not for Van Aert, who has shown in the previous years that he can perform throughout 3 weeks. That doesn't mean Van der Poel can't do it, just that there is no proof of it yet. I don't really question his physical ability, but i do wonder if he can keep it up mentally (as in, not get bored, pull some less smart stunts, lose focus etc...).

 

[Red Rick]

Van Aert went all out in the Tireno, every day. Van der Poel didn't, so you can't really use that argument. If he wants to commit to green, he needs to commit fully and score points on a daily basis. So, that in fact is still an unknown for him, not for Van Aert, who has shown in the previous years that he can perform throughout 3 weeks. That doesn't mean Van der Poel can't do it, just that there is no proof of it yet. I don't really question his physical ability, but i do wonder if he can keep it up mentally (as in, not get bored, pull some less smart stunts, lose focus etc...).

Haven't studied the parcours for green but my first instinct just goes "wait surely Alpecin isn't gonna go for Van der Poel in the flat bunch sprints?"

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Haven't studied the parcours for green but my first instinct just goes "wait surely Alpecin isn't gonna go for Van der Poel in the flat bunch sprints?"

Yep, i've basically said the same last week when the discussion was about him or Philipsen going for green.

 

[senna6541]

MVDP is designed to win races. Line up, win, or go down in flames trying. He doesn't have a stage racer mentality - be it green, yellow, whatever...

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

What are the chances of Sagan spoiling the party?

 

[Skijumper Roglic fan]

Five months after the heat of double Ventoux, Wout today won in the snow. Wonderful race. Only one who was missing was MVDP, of course.

Next weekend Mathieu joins his fellow crossers. Start of four months WVA vs MVDP vs Pidcock - from next weekend until Amstel and Roubaix. These three top guys against each other, racing 1-2x/week. Can‘t wait…

Fingers crossed that they all stay healthy and uninjured, of course.

 

[Bonimenier]

Five months after the heat of double Ventoux, Wout today won in the snow. Wonderful race. Only one who was missing was MVDP, of course.

Next weekend Mathieu joins his fellow crossers. Start of four months WVA vs MVDP vs Pidcock - from next weekend until Amstel and Roubaix. These three top guys against each other, racing 1-2x/week. Can‘t wait…

Fingers crossed that they all stay healthy and uninjured, of course.

All riders of Baloise Trek Lions were also missing, but it's not like it would have changed a lot.

 

[stonerider]

Next weekend Mathieu joins his fellow crossers. Start of four months WVA vs MVDP vs Pidcock - from next weekend until Amstel and Roubaix. These three top guys against each other, racing 1-2x/week. Can‘t wait…

Wout will not be there next week...he'll be at a Jumbo Vismo team camp in Spain. He drops into CX, gets 3 straight wins and some intensity, then jets off to Spain for a week of sun and base miles. He'll be back for the Christmas CX races.

 

[noob]

Wout will not be there next week...he'll be at a Jumbo Vismo team camp in Spain. He drops into CX, gets 3 straight wins and some intensity, then jets off to Spain for a week of sun and base miles. He'll be back for the Christmas CX races.

I wonder when that man ever sees his family Like when is he ever having a day off? He's always everywhere

 

[Boes]

I wonder when that man ever sees his family Like when is he ever having a day off? He's always everywhere

If I'm not mistaking Lotto Jumbo NL allows wives and kids to accompany their riders on training camps. But yes. This guy hardly ever does nothing. Even when on vacation with his family he goes om 8k runs every mornings just for the fun of it.

 

[RedheadDane]

If I'm not mistaking Lotto Jumbo NL allows wives and kids to accompany their riders on training camps. But yes. They guy hardly ever does nothing. Even when on vacation with his family he goes om 8k runs every mornings just for the fun of it.

Might as well just pop the kid into a stroller, and bring him along.

 

[Bolder]

Five months after the heat of double Ventoux, Wout today won in the snow. Wonderful race. Only one who was missing was MVDP, of course.

Next weekend Mathieu joins his fellow crossers. Start of four months WVA vs MVDP vs Pidcock - from next weekend until Amstel and Roubaix. These three top guys against each other, racing 1-2x/week. Can‘t wait…

Fingers crossed that they all stay healthy and uninjured, of course.

I'm not positive that they'll go head to head all that many times. The WC should be great assuming they all make it to Fayetteville.

Wout is looking monstrously strong right now but it's just so hard to gauge the level of everyone else. Pidcock seems to be rounding into form and when he's on should give as good as he gets...

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Let's not get carried away dear Belgian friends. WVA is a cyclo-cross legend and an absolute beast. But on the moment he has a road palmare worse than Pippo Pozzato or Alessandro Ballan.

 

[BlueRoads]

Let's not get carried away dear Belgian friends. WVA is a cyclo-cross legend and an absolute beast. But on the moment he has a road palmare worse than Pippo Pozzato or Alessandro Ballan.

Not really.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Not really.

You don't think he's an absolute beast? Bit harsh.