Teams & Riders Official Wout Van Aert thread

[hayneplane]

Or the big 3 in tennis. When Federer, Djokovic or Nadal were on their game and healthy they were clearly superior, and their dominance has lasted more than a decade, too. Even more remarkable given how many tennis players there are.

But the difference is that in tennis every contest is 1vs1 which makes absolute dominance much easier to achieve than a mass field sport like cycling.

As good as Wout and Mathieu are on the road I can’t recall any race day, whether a 1 day classic or a stage, in which the pair ripped clear of the field by a huge margin to contest a 2up finish whereas this scenario plays out 95% of the time both enter the same cyclocross race.

 

[tobydawq]

But the difference is that in tennis every contest is 1vs1 which makes absolute dominance much easier to achieve than a mass field sport like cycling.

As good as Wout and Mathieu are on the road I can’t recall any race day, whether a 1 day classic or a stage, in which the pair ripped clear of the field by a huge margin to contest a 2up finish whereas this scenario plays out 95% of the time both enter the same cyclocross race.

De Ronde 2020?

But I think that's their only two-man sprint on the road.

 

[Sciatic]

De Ronde 2020?

But I think that's their only two-man sprint on the road.

Yeah, it was a two-up sprint, but first they got rid of that pesky hanger-on with the assist from the moto

 

[stonerider]

As good as Wout and Mathieu are on the road I can’t recall any race day, whether a 1 day classic or a stage, in which the pair ripped clear of the field by a huge margin to contest a 2up finish whereas this scenario plays out 95% of the time both enter the same cyclocross race.

That's because drafting plays a bigger role in road races...guys can just draft wheels and spend less watts for the same speed.

 

[Red Rick]

WvA to become a father a second time this summer.

I guess it's planned after the WC.

 

[Bolder]

But the difference is that in tennis every contest is 1vs1 which makes absolute dominance much easier to achieve than a mass field sport like cycling.

As good as Wout and Mathieu are on the road I can’t recall any race day, whether a 1 day classic or a stage, in which the pair ripped clear of the field by a huge margin to contest a 2up finish whereas this scenario plays out 95% of the time both enter the same cyclocross race.

Maybe, but cyclocross has. a very small number of elite riders and team tactics barely enter into it, and it seems like the sport has shrunk inward to Belgium/Netherlands in recent years rather than expand, despite the existence of two glamorous, exciting riders. Now that I find a bit odd...

On the road you have fields that are 4-5 times as large, with 18-20 teams. I was referring specifically to CX.

Anyway, if you think about it, the phenomenon of absolutely dominant athletes in a single sport is quite interesting. On the men's side, at least, even the third best guy, Pidcock, is still only halfway between the field and those two, assuming all motivated and healthy etc.

I wonder how much longer Wout will continue -- he seemed less that wildly enthusiastic about CX this year despite it being his best season in a while...

 

[Berniece]

WvA to become a father a second time this summer.

I guess it's planned after the WC.

Why do you think that's the case? I was discussing this with my brother that we were wondering if this would put his TDF or WC in danger. WC probably not, but since the TDF is 3 weeks long...

 

[BR2]

Ehm, sometimes it is difficult to plan a pregnancy that precisely...

 

[yaco]

The pregnancy may have been conceived when Wout holidayed in Australia after the 2022 World's.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

The pregnancy may have been conceived when Wout holidayed in Australia after the 2022 World's.

That's what happens when you have a nice hotel

 

[Red Rick]

Why do you think that's the case? I was discussing this with my brother that we were wondering if this would put his TDF or WC in danger. WC probably not, but since the TDF is 3 weeks long...

Think people often announce a thing like that at like 12 weeks.

 

[Berniece]

Think people often announce a thing like that at like 12 weeks.

Or waited until after the cyclocross WC? Your assumption makes sense too

 

[Bonimenier]

The pregnancy may have been conceived when Wout holidayed in Australia after the 2022 World's.

Celebrated finally getting gold with the national team very hard.

 

[Boes]

No Van Aert in Strade.
He's been sick in Teide and will stay there a bit longer to make up for the days lost.

 

[Berniece]

I get why they choose to first properly finish the training, but it's pretty disappointing for the race itself. It won't be easy, but if MVDP is in proper shape I can't see anyone match him. A bit like Pogacar last year.

 

[Nick2413]

No Van Aert in Strade.
He's been sick in Teide and will stay there a bit longer to make up for the days lost.

So the 2 biggest names have dropped out a week or so before the start. Hopefully not a sign of things to come for the rest of the classics.

 

[glassmoon]

that's a bummer... this looked like it could be my fav 1 day race of the season with all the big guns there... well after the P-R of course.
and now no Pog, no Wout... bummer

 

[KenFiamingo]

I get why they choose to first properly finish the training, but it's pretty disappointing for the race itself. It won't be easy, but if MVDP is in proper shape I can't see anyone match him. A bit like Pogacar last year.

Pidcock says "hi!'.

 

[limak_]

Wout knows very well that there's no point in showing up in a race together with in-form MvdP, being even slightly underprepared. That could be a second blow for him after losing CX worlds, which would give a significant psychological advantage to Mathieu ahead of the classics. Considering this, a wise decision from him and Jumbo but also a huge dissappointment for all of us who's been waiting for a big showdown on Saturday.

 

[Earns1985]

I get why they choose to first properly finish the training, but it's pretty disappointing for the race itself. It won't be easy, but if MVDP is in proper shape I can't see anyone match him. A bit like Pogacar last year.

Alaphilippe won this race and showed, that he is back in form, so I wouldn´t anticipate a one-man show now. And do we know for sure that van der Poel is at 100%?

 

[Valanga]

Alaphilippe won this race and showed, that he is back in form, so I wouldn´t anticipate a one-man show now. And do we know for sure that van der Poel is at 100%?

No we don't because he's been hiding ;⁠-⁠)

But anyway even if he would be at 100%, still enough riders to challenge him. Alaphilippe indeed, Wellens looked strong as well this weekend, ...

 

[Berniece]

Pidcock says "hi!'.

He wasn't that impressive in De Omloop to match the performance of Mathieu/Alaphilippe in 2021.

Alaphilippe won this race and showed, that he is back in form, so I wouldn´t anticipate a one-man show now. And do we know for sure that van der Poel is at 100%?

Why was Alaphilippe dropped yesterday? Due to the effort he put in on Saturday? Because an Alaphilippe in form would definitely be able to follow MVDP.

 

[meat puppet]

Is this about the days he missed at the beginning of the teide camp a couple weeks back or something more recent? Seems to have logged 31hrs on strava last week.

 

[Lequack]

He got sick. Sick of everyone talking about Vingegaard.

 

[Red Rick]

He got sick. Sick of everyone talking about Vingegaard.

"Please, I'll talk about anything else. I'm even willing to blame Fred Wright for Primoz' crash or talk about Remco more"