Teams & Riders Official Wout Van Aert thread

[Brullnux]

This is just hater bs.

I'm not a hater, what I'm saying goes against the tide of 'Van Aert washed'. Van Aert has never really performed at the level of Pogacar/Remco in a hard-raced hilly classic, and that's not an insult to him, he's just a different kind of rider. Even in 2022's Liege, he wasn't exactly a protagonist, just got back on to G2 and lost in a sprint to Hermans.

Obviously, Amstel suits him more, but it's no disgrace to lose to 2025 versions of Pogacar and Remco in the fastest ever Amstel where every hill from 60km out was raced all-out. I think Red Rick is right and there's a non-zero chance that at his best he has enough in his legs post-hills to follow Remco, but that isn't a given. If the best climbers in the world race Amstel with that intensity, then the 80kg guy is on the back foot. I think yesterday's performance is reassuring, if anything.

 

[EllaChimp]

Wout has been in the top 4 in his last 5 races. That's pretty damn good, considering the endless injuries he's had and the state his knees are still in! He's doing well and will continue to recover and will get some wins again, I'm sure of it.

 

[veganrob]

Peak van Aert was TdF 2022, stage 4. That version does not get dropped

So three light years ago.

 

[Oldman]

Peak van Aert was TdF 2022, stage 4. That version does not get dropped

Oh, don't forget he felt the need to express that power riding past his teammate, Primoz and towing Jonas to a big gap on his fellow rider. That was, indeed a heroic display of his prowess! Meanwhile; Primoz re-set his own dislocated shoulder and finished the stage. He then managed to work Tadej over a few times which may have helped Jonas win that Tour.

Karma bites and there is still one more chunk to be taken out of Visma to satisfy the imbalance.