Teams & Riders Official Wout Van Aert thread

[Valv.Piti]

For the time being I think there is only one possible conclusion. Boonen and Cancellara where way more dominant in the cobbled classics of their era than Van der Poel and van Aert.

Maybe that is because with Asgreen, Colbrelli etc. There is just better competition. I think so.

Maybe the upcoming years it will still change because van der poel and van Aert will actually start to divide all major classics as was predicted. But I don’t think so.

Outside of the cobbled classics I think it is also clear that Van Aert is by far the most versatile rider of the four, with van der Poel second. All four of them were good in multiple disciplines. But van Aert is versatile at a level I haven’t seen during the years I am watching cycling.

Hell no. Wait till their respective careers are over, Cancellara and Boonen had around 10 shots at those races in their prime/close prime.

I almost get the vibe Pog prefers single day races with how excited he is to make the race every single day. Logically it’s smartest to prioritize GTs with the ability he has to completely dominate but I see him doing classics pretty aggressively as well.

Yeah, but he could just take the approach of riding the Tour every year and race similar schedules to the one he did this year - a few stage races and the hardest classics on the calendar (apart from Roubaix). With the schedule shake up, I hope for Amstel as well next year along with E-3, that would be ideal in terms of watching him go head to head in proper races with Wout, Mathieu etc.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

but you see how fast it can go when you win 2 in 3 years like VDP and sprint 3 times for the win.

Yeah I can see that for vdP but not so much for Van Aert.

 

[Red Rick]

Yeah I can see that for vdP but not so much for Van Aert.

Van Aert has made the msitake of trying to win everywhere before monuments a little too much.

Also, at this point it's clear as days it's worth giving Van Aert a shot in Liege and Lombardia and Jumbo have not done it.

 

[Boes]

Van Aert has made the msitake of trying to win everywhere before monuments a little too much.

Also, at this point it's clear as days it's worth giving Van Aert a shot in Liege and Lombardia and Jumbo have not done it.

I'm still hoping for a debut in LBL for WVA this year...
With that finish he stands a decent chance to win.

 

[ij74]

I wouldn´t use the Boonen/Cancellara argument too much. Their days were different. It´s different era now, new young supertalents are coming every season so I believe that it´ll be much harder to stay at the top for a long time.

 

[Netserk]

Hell no he isnt, Kristoff is downright a joke compared to Wout. Big wins matter, but come on now, we all have eyes.

By the way, eyes and stopwatches would also have the 90's jets way ahead of anyone before and after. Must be down to that just being a strong era, and we've only had weak eras since then.

 

[joe_papp]

He’s still my pick for PR, although Matthieu may just be too good.

Will he even ride PR? And if he does start, wouldn't you think the effects of illness would make MvdP the clear favorite?

 

[Nick2413]

I might be getting a bit ahead of myself given MVdP’s freakishness but it really depends on his specific situation. If his case is mild I could see it arguably benefiting him given not having an all out Flanders performance to recover from.

 

[Bonimenier]

I hope he'll ride LBL this year. It would be too funny if he wins LBL and IL before ever scoring in RVV or PR.

 

[Boes]

He's in Calpe now. Suposedly training in a black jersey (not in his Belgian champion jersey).
Jumbo asked Wout not to put his training on Strava to avoid any confusing or guessing.
Thursday is the decision day for Roubaix. If he starts in Roubaix, it'll be to help the team rather then win himself.

Source: https://www.hln.be/wielrennen/wout-...ing-of-hij-start-in-parijs-roubaix~a51c9354d/

On a personal note: I think that if he starts in Roubaix, it'll be to win himself.

 

[Bushman]

There is absolutely zero chance he will start Roubaix and not ride for himself.

 

[Ripper]

There is absolutely zero chance he will start Roubaix and not ride for himself.

Exactly

 

[Bonimenier]

Het Laatste Nieuws is claiming he's added LBL to his program.

 

[Red Rick]

Het Laatste Nieuws is claiming he's added LBL to his program.

Hope that doesnt mean Rogl is unable to ride

 

[Bonimenier]

Hope that doesnt mean Rogl is unable to ride

While it's possible Roglic won't be able to ride, I don't think the absence of Roglic and the presence of van Aert are related. If any of the 2 wants to ride they just booth another ride out the team.

 

[Boes]

LBL confirmed by 'het laatste nieuws'.
It is expected that he will skip Roubaix and ride LBL instead.

No confirmation of Jumbo so far.

 

[Blanco]

Good decision, if true. He has a chance at Liege, even better if Rogla is there too.

 

[Wvv]

Confirmed for Roubaix after good signals during training in Spain. Not as number 1 leader though. Afterwards they will decide about Liège.

 

[OlavEH]

LBL confirmed by 'het laatste nieuws'.
It is expected that he will skip Roubaix and ride LBL instead.

No confirmation of Jumbo so far.

The startlist for LBL is shaping up to be really nice. Rog and Pog, Ala and now Van Aert. In addition Pidcock, Kwia, Hirschi, Vingegaard, etc., The fight between Jumbo, Ineos and UAE could be epic.

 

[Boes]

The startlist for LBL is shaping up to be really nice. Rog and Pog, Ala and now Van Aert. In addition Pidcock, Kwia, Hirschi, Vingegaard, etc., The fight between Jumbo, Ineos and UAE could be epic.

Hirschi and Pidcock both not really impressive this year. At least Pidcock still has some top 10 results but what happened to the guy that was the strongest rider in the tdf peleton of 2020.

 

[Netserk]

Hirschi and Pidcock both not really impressive this year. At least Pidcock still has some top 10 results but what happened to the guy that was the strongest rider in the tdf peleton of 2020.

Huh? Hirschi will be an outsider in Liège, depending on his role. He is ready and looks good at the moment.

Pidcock won't.

 

[Ripper]

Confirmed for Roubaix after good signals during training in Spain. Not as number 1 leader though. Afterwards they will decide about Liège.

Yes, although that article is also much PR. He'll start, and he might suck, he might be a good team mate, and he might go for it.

 

[Jumbot]

"Get this man a shield!"

Captain Belgium is back baby...

 

[SafeBet]

Huh? Hirschi will be an outsider in Liège, depending on his role. He is ready and looks good at the moment.

Pidcock won't.

Why not? He's clearly better on hills than cobbles. And I've seen nothing suggesting he's not good on hills this year.

 

[Red Rick]

Liege can have the biggest most interesting starting field in the world, it's very likely still just "Roche aux Faucons and inshallah"