Teams & Riders Official Wout Van Aert thread

[James M]

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

This i agree on 100% with I was about to say he should! Just fxxx it and do bare minimum and honestly I would be surprised if that is not the case now, up against the person he is its understandable even for his status!
Just try to hold on for dear life, do zero job, wheelsuck and play the sprint card and that he has the best sprint, the history will forgive, they already signaled their cynical about it with MSR.

This approach im honestly expecting to some degree for him now, and he should. As I said something has to give

 

[sam6]

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

I don't see why last year should change his schedule. He crashed, crashes happen and they are mostly bad luck. He'd be just as likely to crash in MSR as in Dwars, had he raced MSR last year he might well have crashed in that instead. This is like saying "Pogacar shouldn't have rode ride LBL last year because he crashed in that race the year before"

Honestly, I think this is a sensible move from him. In previous years, he has peaked slightly too early in the classics so skipping some early ones to do altitude training is probably a good move. He knows what shape he was in when he crashed, unfortunately, we didn't get to find out, but if he thinks he was in better shape than in previous years it makes sense to prioritise his main goals!

 

[YavorD]

I don't see why last year should change his schedule. He crashed, crashes happen and they are mostly bad luck. He'd be just as likely to crash in MSR as in Dwars, had he raced MSR last year he might well have crashed in that instead. This is like saying "Pogacar shouldn't have rode ride LBL last year because he crashed in that race the year before"

No that's not it. Let's say that a crash is as likely in both races but had he won San Remo, his season would be somewhat successful even if he crashed out before his other goals. Had he won DVV and crashed out afterwards, his season would still be disappointing.
So it's not about the chance of a crash
It's about the weight of the races you choose to skip and why. And maximising your career by winning big races.

And nobody said , Pogacar should've skipped LBL" for the same reason. Had he started in, say, Brabantse (while skipping LBL) people would blame him and rightly so.

 

[veganrob]

Wout should go all in on RvV and PR. Screw the tour. Maybe he has had his biggest success there but that is because that is what Visma wants from him. He wasted much of his career racing for them. Sad I think.

 

[Flamin]

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

Exactly. Time's up to be a 'nice guy', and instead be more passive and ruthless. Take some lessons from Van Avermaet who started winning big races the moment he became a 'boring' rider. Wout did far less work in Roubaix '23 than usual and he was in prime position to win if not for that puncture. Do more of that and I'm positive that he will win a monument this year (most likely Roubaix).

 

[Keldergoat]

I'm not sture, that passive approach could also backfire easily. Everyone in the peloton knows how eager WvA (and Visma) are to win a monument. If you are playing the cool guy and show no interest to put in any work when you are facing guys like MvdP and Pogacar, who've won 7 monuments already, I don't know why they would be bothered about it.

Playing team tactics smartly is way more of a route I would go down to to outplay Alpecin. With DvB, Jorgenson, Benoot, Campenaerts, Kooij (in a similar role as Philipsen), Affini and potentially Behrens they still have a killer team on paper (if their bad luck spell finally ends).

 

[Flamin]

I'm not sture, that passive approach could also backfire easily. Everyone in the peloton knows how eager WvA (and Visma) are to win a monument. If you are playing the cool guy and show no interest to put in any work when you are facing guys like MvdP and Pogacar, who've won 7 monuments already, I don't know why they would be bothered about it.

Playing team tactics smartly is way more of a route I would go down to to outplay Alpecin. With DvB, Jorgenson, Benoot, Campenaerts, Kooij (in a similar role as Philipsen), Affini and potentially Behrens they still have a killer team on paper (if their bad luck spell finally ends).

Any approach can backfire. Fact of the matter is, the agressive one hasn't played out very well in the big classics. I'm not saying he should shadow Pog and MVDP like Pozzato. Just do less. Take a look at Flanders 2023. Twice he overtakes MVDP to close an attack from Pog, with MVDP sitting in his wheel. Same happened in Sanremo a few weeks earlier. He doesn't have to do that.

Also in Flanders that year, he pulled with Pog and MVDP after Koppenberg, while Laporte was only 20" back with Pidcock. If he doesn't, chances are you those 2 come back and you have a team mate in a group of just 5. He learned from it in Roubaix the next week, unfortunately that didn't pay off.

As you say, playing the strength of numbers card is also the way to go, but that's also part of being more passive.

 

[Netserk]

As you say, playing the strength of numbers card is also the way to go, but that's also part of being more passive.

Yes, the two are synergetic.

 

[Unchained]

Wout should go all in on RvV and PR. Screw the tour. Maybe he has had his biggest success there but that is because that is what Visma wants from him. He wasted much of his career racing for them. Sad I think.

Ouch!! Wout absolutely destroyed at the Vuelta..a few wins and was standing on the boxes some other stages.
Was a super animator at TDF, with some solid results and again boxes, he stood on the podium multiple days..guy is recognized throughout, has sponsors positively exposed all day long, and Wout loses races with style, flair, he might not win but he dies trying.
And now unlike Pidcock, Visma looks happy with double dose of sponsor exposure as Wout is beating the f-ck out of the cyclocross elite, weekly punishment, completely positive style of racing.
And look at his schedule before TDF, doesn't look very scientific!! Spain, Portugal, 3rd week of February!Bunch of dates in Belgium in March, quick drive for Paris- Roubaix,
Then road trip for Giro and then whatever he and Visma think TDF, looks like for him individually and team objectives.. Couldn't disagree more that he has wasted his time or been misused at Visma. Guy and team look happy with one another.. I would say that bucket list, he has Vuelta victories checked off..30 years old and looks like he can do everything!! Just imagine when he turns down the volume and forgets completely about stage races..He will be a one day race threat for many years to come..
and as if I couldn't sound any more like a fanboy!!Wout goes to Colombia, does some embarrassing dancing.. Smiling, unable to stop and helped promote Rigo Uran's grand fondo!! Guy is a sponsor dream!!

 

[veganrob]

Ouch!! Wout absolutely destroyed at the Vuelta..a few wins and was standing on the boxes some other stages.
Was a super animator at TDF, with some solid results and again boxes, he stood on the podium multiple days..guy is recognized throughout, has sponsors positively exposed all day long, and Wout loses races with style, flair, he might not win but he dies trying.
And now unlike Pidcock, Visma looks happy with double dose of sponsor exposure as Wout is beating the f-ck out of the cyclocross elite, weekly punishment, completely positive style of racing.
And look at his schedule before TDF, doesn't look very scientific!! Spain, Portugal, 3rd week of February!Bunch of dates in Belgium in March, quick drive for Paris- Roubaix,
Then road trip for Giro and then whatever he and Visma think TDF, looks like for him individually and team objectives.. Couldn't disagree more that he has wasted his time or been misused at Visma. Guy and team look happy with one another.. I would say that bucket list, he has Vuelta victories checked off..30 years old and looks like he can do everything!! Just imagine when he turns down the volume and forgets completely about stage races..He will be a one day race threat for many years to come..
and as if I couldn't sound any more like a fanboy!!Wout goes to Colombia, does some embarrassing dancing.. Smiling, unable to stop and helped promote Rigo Uran's grand fondo!! Guy is a sponsor dream!!

Don't get me wrong, and I don't think you are. I am a big Wout fan. Obviously not as big as you. Maybe from a selfish point of view I was hoping for more battles and wins in the monuments. Especially RvV and PR. He I one of the biggest. talents of this generation without a doubt. He was the one responsible for Vingo first TdF win. He was phenomenal. And Vuelta last year was great. He has had more than his share of untimely crashes disrupting what would have been more big wins, I'm sure.
He seems to be enjoying life with his family and that is so important in such a consuming sport. So maybe it's my own selfish reasons. I hope he has a great year.

 

[Pantani_lives]

In the past fifteen years only one rider has won the Tour of Flanders after not starting in Milano-Sanremo: Niki Terpstra. In the years before that it has happened more often. Andrea Tafi did MS fifteen times, but not in the year when he won Flanders.

RvV winners who didn't start in MS:

• 2002 Tafi
• 2003 Van Petegem
• 2008 Devolder
• 2009 Devolder
• 2018 Terpstra

 

[Berniece]

In the past fifteen years only one rider has won the Tour of Flanders after not starting in Milano-Sanremo: Niki Terpstra. In the years before that it has happened more often. Andrea Tafi did MS fifteen times, but not in the year when he won Flanders.

RvV winners who didn't start in MS:

• 2002 Tafi
• 2003 Van Petegem
• 2008 Devolder
• 2009 Devolder
• 2018 Terpstra

What about Roubaix? It's much more likely he wins that than Flanders.

 

[Wvv]

In the past fifteen years only one rider has won the Tour of Flanders after not starting in Milano-Sanremo: Niki Terpstra. In the years before that it has happened more often. Andrea Tafi did MS fifteen times, but not in the year when he won Flanders.

RvV winners who didn't start in MS:

• 2002 Tafi
• 2003 Van Petegem
• 2008 Devolder
• 2009 Devolder
• 2018 Terpstra

I think a more defining statistic would be 'contesting the final of Milan-Sanremo'. Because a lot of cobblestone riders did attend the event but merely as a training race. Which we cannot expect/accept of Van Aert

 

[Unchained]

Don't get me wrong, and I don't think you are. I am a big Wout fan. Obviously not as big as you. Maybe from a selfish point of view I was hoping for more battles and wins in the monuments. Especially RvV and PR. He I one of the biggest. talents of this generation without a doubt. He was the one responsible for Vingo first TdF win. He was phenomenal. And Vuelta last year was great. He has had more than his share of untimely crashes disrupting what would have been more big wins, I'm sure.
He seems to be enjoying life with his family and that is so important in such a consuming sport. So maybe it's my own selfish reasons. I hope he has a great year.

Your point of view is completely correct, always good to have high, positive explanations of people who you see as gifted. Wout certainly is. I also would like to see some big monuments for him before it's over, whenever that is. I think it says something for the overall level when teams can schedule riders for so many race days before major multi week tours.. Pogacar has had basically a winning hand, most people who watch racing know that many times crashes are really about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.. And classic kings like MVP have had to back down some to injury, knees and back in his case. Wout has had his share of body beating and breaking.. All that said, I would enjoy classic season to showcase best riders in best form going against each other.. I am also not wishing ill on Pogacar, but he has not been injured as much.. Wout showing some really solid early stuff.. and as it goes, he looks smooth and powerful during cyclocross efforts.. Hope that a sign for road season starting shortly

 

[James M]

Your point of view is completely correct, always good to have high, positive explanations of people who you see as gifted. Wout certainly is. I also would like to see some big monuments for him before it's over, whenever that is. I think it says something for the overall level when teams can schedule riders for so many race days before major multi week tours.. Pogacar has had basically a winning hand, most people who watch racing know that many times crashes are really about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.. And classic kings like MVP have had to back down some to injury, knees and back in his case. Wout has had his share of body beating and breaking.. All that said, I would enjoy classic season to showcase best riders in best form going against each other.. I am also not wishing ill on Pogacar, but he has not been injured as much.. Wout showing some really solid early stuff.. and as it goes, he looks smooth and powerful during cyclocross efforts.. Hope that a sign for road season starting shortly

While not wrong. WVA talent is undeniable and remarkable if were being real, but you also have to put it into context, Wva is up against the best cyclist that has ever lived, put him in the Sagan era or any other and he would dominate more and be even more appriciated as he would have won more monuments (can you imagine him vs Kristoff, Terpstra and Sagan for instance.)

MvdP himself is statistically arguebly also one of the better one day racers in recent history at least ,so results in a vaccum alone doesnt give the full picture. Wout is special and only a person with a mental/mature awereness of a monkey wouldnt be able to admit that.

 

[yaco]

Why would he need to do altitude training in Early March ? Maybe a bit of altitude before the Giro is OK, but prolonged periods of altitude should be for GC riders.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Why would he need to do altitude training in Early March ? Maybe a bit of altitude before the Giro is OK, but prolonged periods of altitude should be for GC riders.

That's not the way it works these days, and especially not at Visma.

 

[yaco]

That's not the way it works these days, and especially not at Visma.

I've always thought VWA would be a better rider at another team. At the end of the day it is his choice.

 

[Wvv]

I've always thought VWA would be a better rider at another team. At the end of the day it is his choice.

A transfer to QuickStep a couple of years ago would've been perfect for him.

 

[Berniece]

I've always thought VWA would be a better rider at another team. At the end of the day it is his choice.

I think Visma is able to get the most out of him performance wise, but not result wise.

 

[Keldergoat]

A transfer to QuickStep a couple of years ago would've been perfect for him.

Can you explain that one? The QuickStep that the last 2-3 year gradually steering away their focus from cobbles classics to GC's with Evenepoel, where no classics rider has been developing themselves properly in the last years? I don't see why going to that team would've been a logical move (assuming that they were always desperate to keep Evenepoel in the team).

 

[GenericBoonenFan]

Can you explain that one? The QuickStep that the last 2-3 year gradually steering away their focus from cobbles classics to GC's with Evenepoel, where no classics rider has been developing themselves properly in the last years? I don't see why going to that team would've been a logical move (assuming that they were always desperate to keep Evenepoel in the team).

If they had gotten WVA they probably wouldn't have steered so far the other way.

 

[yaco]

I think Visma is able to get the most out of him performance wise, but not result wise.

How can you perform when you are missing key races to do a pointless altitude camp.

 

[YavorD]

While not wrong. WVA talent is undeniable and remarkable if were being real, but you also have to put it into context, Wva is up against the best cyclist that has ever lived, put him in the Sagan era or any other and he would dominate more and be even more appriciated as he would have won more monuments (can you imagine him vs Kristoff, Terpstra and Sagan for instance.)

Pogacar himself never stopped WVA from winning a monument (or even any other big race for that matter). Even in RvV 2023 MVDP would likely be the winner.
You don't really need to make everything all about Pogacar when it's mostly Van der Poel stopping Van Aert in the big races.

Unless, of course, you mean that MVDP is the best cyclist in the world (which I doubt).

 

[Berniece]

How can you perform when you are missing key races to do a pointless altitude camp.

Like I said, better performance, not better results. With performance I mean getting the most out of his body.