Teams & Riders Official Wout Van Aert thread

[Krzysztof_O]

“It’s incredible, we didn’t really think about this this morning,” Van Aert said.

If not then what did you do in this breakaway, Wout?

 

[tobydawq]

After stage nine, it was quite popular to slander him for not cooperating with Del Toro for several reasons. I wonder what those people thought after yesterday. Pretty funny to think that the decision to not pull that day in the end decided the Giro.

 

[Rackham]

If not then what did you do in this breakaway, Wout?

Confirmation that selfish Van Aert was trying to Mont Ventoux his way to another legendary stage win. Sneaky.

 

[Pantani_lives]

He has won the Trofeo Bonacossa. I admit I hadn't heard of it. I think next to a combativity award each GT should also have an award for "Best Teammate". Van Aert would be a candidate for that.

 

[peterfin]

His effort in increasing the gap for Simon Yates may be more remarkeable than I first thought.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1928841247839470007

View: https://x.com/jonas_creteur/status/1928841247839470007?t=rVCV_stdOVGLGpB0dm3CPg&s=19

 

[Peyroteo94]

Wva's career has been so bad these days that some people praise him for his remarkable work to other riders like it is a very important feat in cycling.

 

[Red Rick]

His effort in increasing the gap for Simon Yates may be more remarkeable than I first thought.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1928841247839470007

View: https://x.com/jonas_creteur/status/1928841247839470007?t=rVCV_stdOVGLGpB0dm3CPg&s=19

Pulled 1 minute back on Chris Harper in 13 minutes of pulling. Turns out that taking it easier on Finestre helps.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Pulled 1 minute back on Chris Harper in 13 minutes of pulling. Turns out that taking it easier on Finestre helps.

I doubt Wout was taking it significantly easier, he had to do Finestre near the limit in his current climbing shape

 

[Blanco]

He is a killer, but of a different kind than Van der Poel or Pogacar. Those guys would never turn themselves inside out for someone else, Van Aert would. I'd even go so far as to say that he's almost able to suffer more in support of Vingegaard or Yates than he is when riding for himself. He just loves to do this. Belgian fans don't like it when he sacrifices himself for the team, but he does.

Van Der Poel earned a monument for a teammate, and half-a-dozen of Tour stages, so I wouldn't say he doesn't help his teammates.

 

[Red Rick]

I doubt Wout was taking it significantly easier, he had to do Finestre near the limit in his current climbing shape

His climbing splits suggest otherwise. Took it really easily early on then accelerated towards the top to make sure he comfortably got over ahead of Yates. He lost like 5'30 on the asphalted section to Yates and then only 3 minutes on the gravel section. In the 3km before the top he almost kept pace with Gee and the Pellizzari group. Perfectly under control

Losing 9 minutes on Finestre is around 15%, if you go look at MTT results and where you finish being 15% slower, that's usually between 60-80th place, so literally middle of the pack among many riders who aren't going all out but will finish comfortably in the time limit.

The other reason is on a combination like Finestre and Sestriere, not even the GC contenders do higher W/kg on Sestriere if they go all out on the Finestre. But Marcellusi was doing 5 W/kg in Van Aert's wheel. Now I do think there was a tailwind but you don't do 13 minutes at let's say 6W/kg if you were at your complete max doing 5.4 or whatever for 67 minutes just 15 minutes before.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

His climbing splits suggest otherwise. Took it really easily early on then accelerated towards the top to make sure he comfortably got over ahead of Yates. He lost like 5'30 on the asphalted section to Yates and then only 3 minutes on the gravel section. In the 3km before the top he almost kept pace with Gee and the Pellizzari group. Perfectly under control

Losing 9 minutes on Finestre is around 15%, if you go look at MTT results and where you finish being 15% slower, that's usually between 60-80th place, so literally middle of the pack among many riders who aren't going all out but will finish comfortably in the time limit.

The other reason is on a combination like Finestre and Sestriere, not even the GC contenders do higher W/kg on Sestriere if they go all out on the Finestre. But Marcellusi was doing 5 W/kg in Van Aert's wheel. Now I do think there was a tailwind but you don't do 13 minutes at let's say 6W/kg if you were at your complete max doing 5.4 or whatever for 67 minutes just 15 minutes before.

That sounds like while he didn‘t TT to the top, the last 3k were not under control, having to go at a serious climbing pace, unless you think negative splitting and going hard at the end of the climb will keep you fresh for domestique work.

 

[MJR]

Another phenomenal GT performance that leaves his fans conflicted.

He's a helluva helper, but there isn't a "thanks, mate, you were great" column on one's career achievements.

 

[Red Rick]

That sounds like while he didn‘t TT to the top, the last 3k were not under control, having to go at a serious climbing pace, unless you think negative splitting and going hard at the end of the climb will keep you fresh for domestique work.

If you can accelerate compared to everyone else, you have it quite well under control. And if I get someone to pace for me I'd rather have the guy who's only been at the limit the last 15 minutes rather than a guy who's gone all out for the full 65 minutes.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

If you can accelerate compared to everyone else, you have it quite well under control. And if I get someone to pace for me I'd rather have the guy who's only been at the limit the last 15 minutes rather than a guy who's gone all out for the full 65 minutes.

Obviously but it would have been better if he had a crystal ball and managed a consistent pace just below the limit.

 

[Izzyeviel]

Wva's career has been so bad these days that some people praise him for his remarkable work to other riders like it is a very important feat in cycling.

Well quite often its the difference between winning or losing a grand tour...

 

[Hugh Januss]

Wva's career has been so bad these days that some people praise him for his remarkable work to other riders like it is a very important feat in cycling.

If working for a team leader is not that important why do teams waste all that money on bringing 7 riders in addition to the leader to races?

 

[Berniece]

Wva's career has been so bad these days that some people praise him for his remarkable work to other riders like it is a very important feat in cycling.

Your teammates are extremely important in cycling… what are you on about? Trying to discredit a rider like this isn’t the way to go

 

[Red Rick]

Another phenomenal GT performance that leaves his fans conflicted.

He's a helluva helper, but there isn't a "thanks, mate, you were great" column on one's career achievements.

Why should fans be conflicted. They should just enjoy this contribution.

 

[Rackham]

Another phenomenal GT performance that leaves his fans conflicted.

He's a helluva helper, but there isn't a "thanks, mate, you were great" column on one's career achievements.

But there literally is. It's all part of his legacy.

This Giro for Van Aert will be remembered for two main things: winning the gravel stage and then winning the Giro with Simon Yates. A win in which he played a huge role.

The same way people remember his performance on Hautacam as well. Cycling (or sport in general) isn't an abstract list of achievements on a Wikipedia page or on Procyclingstats. It's a televised spectacle.

This touches on the core of the issue right here. People wonder 'why' Van Aert is such a huge star when he's got one monument. Well it's pretty damn straightforward: GT's get large viewing numbers and Van Aert is always a central protagonist in GT's. It's as simple as that. From contesting stages to making the race hard in the first hour or being the key helper for his leader.

 

[Peyroteo94]

If working for a team leader is not that important why do teams waste all that money on bringing 7 riders in addition to the leader to races?

For your own legacy, it isn't.
Tell me, after his MSR and SB wins in 2020, did you think his most legendary performances would be working for his teammates (I can add that stage win where he rode Vingegaard off his wheel)? If this isn't underwhelming, what it is?
Riders like WVA should be THE team leader, not the best domestique (because he is due to his insane versatility and ability).

 

[Peyroteo94]

Another phenomenal GT performance that leaves his fans conflicted.

He's a helluva helper, but there isn't a "thanks, mate, you were great" column on one's career achievements.

Spot on.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Wva's career has been so bad these days that some people praise him for his remarkable work to other riders like it is a very important feat in cycling.

In relation to Ayuso, you seem to consider it essential that a rider fulfils his duties in support of a leader.
In relation to van Aert, you seem to disregard a remarkable level of such support.

I'm struggling to see the consistency.

 

[Rockestar_33]

For your own legacy, it isn't.
Tell me, after his MSR and SB wins in 2020, did you think his most legendary performances would be working for his teammates (I can add that stage win where he rode Vingegaard off his wheel)? If this isn't underwhelming, what it is?
Riders like WVA should be THE team leader, not the best domestique (because he is due to his insane versatility and ability).

Yes. Next

 

[Wyndbrook]

Nice trophy yesterday, spot on for the for the mantlepiece.

 

[Berniece]

In relation to Ayuso, you seem to consider it essential that a rider fulfils his duties in support of a leader.
In relation to van Aert, you seem to disregard a remarkable level of such support.

I'm struggling to see the consistency.

One rides for UAE and the other for Visma