Teams & Riders Official Wout Van Aert thread

[the asian]

Finally after years of bad luck and finishing on the podium gets a well deserved win.

Hope the stars align at Flanders also some day ! . At least 3-4 monument wins would do justice to his talent.

 

[Brullnux]

I think Ronde with the bergs is just not for him.

His best chance was 2022, then he got Covid. Probably his best climbing year that one.

After that I don't think he's ever been at the same level over the bergs. And Pogacar came along, who would beat him every time.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Big big win. So happy to see it. He has been very strong this year. Pogacar robbed him of a second MSR by causing him to crash, so it was only fair that he do some pulls for Wout today.

All this crap about how Mvdp was stronger, Pogacar was stronger, come on! Even setting aside the context of his previous bad luck, the knee that looks like it got mauled by a bear, he had two mechanicals today as well, had to catch back up, and won by far the fastest P-R in history. He had more in the tank, too. I wish MVDP had been there with him so he could have outsprinted him too.

 

[AlfaLum]

I have never really liked Wout van Aert. I did not like him when he made the move to Jumbo. I did not like him when he looked like becoming a major major winner during his time at Jumbo. For me he wasnt really likeable as a winner.

But I started to like him in recent years because at some point he became the best non-alien of his era and he lost way more than he won. He got too much of the share of bad luck. He got too much of the victories you deserve but never get.

But now he finally got it and I am super super happy for him. It is not a COVID Monument, is it not a super class GT stage victory in a GT with many other more important headlines. It is a monument victory right in the era where Pogacar and van der Poel dominate this scène entirely.

And there could not be a more fitting rider to break that streak than Wout van Aert. Superb victory!

 

[Forever The Best]

His best chance was 2022, then he got Covid. Probably his best climbing year that one.

After that I don't think he's ever been at the same level over the bergs. And Pogacar came along, who would beat him every time.

And obviously 2020, where he lost a 1v1 sprint to VDP. Still not sure about 2022 though, he had excellent climbing legs in 2021 as well (Tokyo Olympics, Ventoux), yet wasn't good in Ronde.

 

[CatchyH]

Very happy for him. It would have been a travesty if he ended his career on just 1 monument win.

 

[Sciatic]

Fantastic, very emotional win, his initial velodrome acceleration was years of frustration unleashed.

That surge of power was awesome—I could feel it.

 

[yaco]

Visa Lease A bikes first monument win since 2020.

 

[Mayomaniac]

So, Wout has MSR and PR on his palmares. And a bunch of other wins. Impressive

@Ilmaestro99 Belgian Pozzato leveled up to Belgian Degenkolb.
I kid, he deserved this win.

 

[Valv.Piti]

When he lost in Dwaars, I wrote a post that it's so frustrating being a WVA-fan because *** like that always happens. A win like today makes it all worth it! I was in Flanders this year, and the support he received there was very noticeable. Even compared to Remco as well. They love him, but I think that a heck of a lot more than just the Belgians rooted for him today.

Winning despite two mechanicals, there can be no doubt that we found the right winner today. Rode a super smart race, but he was also incredibly strong. Remember he initited the move just before Mons-en-Pevele with Pogacar dropping Mads and the others.

 

[jmdirt]

Can't wait for Chris Horner take.
(can i post that here?)

No because it will be off topic.

 

[Peter von]

Great win today.

Funny that he only wins it after most of us had written him off because he clearly isn’t as on par with MVP anymore as he used to be.

 

[Red Rick]

The natural selection of recent monuments should make any surprise attacks pretty impossible. I expect Van Aert to be a lot closer in Roubaix though

Did get sort of close.

 

[Keldergoat]

He wins the momument that suits him the best. Well-deserved win, after all the bad luck he often encountered in this race, he merits to be in the palmares of the greatest of all monuments.

 

[Pantani_lives]

The eternal second beats the eternal first.

 

[AmRacer]

The eternal second beats the eternal first.

both of the eternal firsts.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Great win by Wout. Its so fitting that a rider like him has a cobbled monument win.

 

[canina82]

This guy is the real people's champion. Pogacar is more popular but due to his dominance, he has a lot of "haters" too. Wout just seems the kind of guy everyone loves.

 

[Low is rhe new high]

This guy is the real people's champion. Pogacar is more popular but due to his dominance, he has a lot of "haters" too. Wout just seems the kind of guy everyone loves.

Where is Pogacar more popular? I can understand if he is more popular in Slovenia? Maybe he is more popular in UAE as well? But apart from those small strange countries?

 

[canina82]

Where is Pogacar more popular? I can understand if he is more popular in Slovenia? Maybe he is more popular in UAE as well? But apart from those small strange countries?

He is the most popular rider globally. For example, number of followers on Instagram. What metric do you have to show Wout is more popular globally?

 

[hayneplane]

I wanted Pog to win but am delighted for Van Aert to finally win a cobbled monument and for it to be the race of his destiny feels fitting.

Far too talented to have ended his career as a singular monument winner.

 

[RealKwaremonster]

As a MvdP fan, Wout has come along way in my esteem since the cyclocross days. What a story this in, one staying humble of keep believing. I hope this frees him and we see more from this guy the next years as if we are in 2020-2022 again (although preferably not too much at the expense of Mathieu).

 

[Old-school]

Just want to say I am happy for WVA. He was STRONG and SMART and not unlucky today.

 

[Axel Hangleck]

Looking back to breaking his ankle at the CX race on 2nd Jan whilst racing Mathieu, who'd have thought it would be Wout who was next to win a Monument.......

A well deserved win.....

 

[Low is rhe new high]

He is the most popular rider globally. For example, number of followers on Instagram. What metric do you have to show Wout is more popular globally?

Yeah there is probably a lot of fanatic Slovenians on instagram following Pogacar.