- Jul 15, 2023
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It's easy to forget that Wout suffered a broken ankle at a cyclo cross event on the 2nd January. He's done incredibly well to recover and even be competitive, never mind win PR and get on the podium a couple of times.
He likely didn't have much dysplasia of bones after they looked to treatment. He ended up at the Red Bull training facility by all reports. They would have treated him with stem cell injections and a reasonable amount of ergogenic treatments to hasten healing and reduce swelling. That's all legal as long as the controlled substances are clear from his system in time to compete and that's what those drugs are for. Totally legit use, IMO. That regime would return him to light duty on the trainer almost immediately to avoid loss of form and get him to necessary intervals very quickly. That process is how Lindsey Vonn came back. 2025's World Cup Champ Fredericka Brignone suffered serious injury in Italy at season's end and returned almost magically to win Olympic Gold. The recoveries are unheard of and a definite boon to pro athletes that can afford that path.
Much credit can go to JV and that facility for recognizing how to rehab that situation and Wout's ability to work through it. He must of been super-motivated to perform at PR.
Lots of athletes use PRP ( Platelet Rich Plasma)therapy, I don't know if the UCI has rules on it
Most definitely. Along with stem cells you can grow a garden of healthy tissue. Again; if it's about injury recovery and combined with hormones or steroids it should be legal. It should be disclosed and thoroughly tested before competitive clearance. The riders have the same health rights as all of us and, if they can afford it; they should be able to accelerate healing themselves. We all know how concerned the UCI is about rider safety.....
- Jul 3, 2022
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Is it weird that it's three days later and I'm still thrilled about Wout's win?
- Jul 10, 2014
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Watching part of the race I missed on Sunday now. If I didn’t know better, when there were 65km to go and Wout was 30 seconds back or Pogacar and MVDP just 35 seconds back from him in a group of 20, then Pogacar attacked the cobbles at 64km, it sure seemed hopeless for him. Did anyone figure out why Pogacar came back so much faster from his flat at about the same time? Almost doomed Wout’s race there.
Wow and MVdP was only 19 seconds back with 54km to go. I cannot believe he didn’t make it back!
- Apr 30, 2011
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- Feb 24, 2015
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I think it was him getting a spare bike (Shimano) quite quickly and then got Morgado (first) and Politt/Bjerg (second) to pull him back to the first group.
MVDP lost lots more in Arenberg and had to do most pulling himself to get as close as 20 secs up to the front. Must've cost him.
WVA got help but I need to watch again as he had at least two flats.
- Apr 30, 2011
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he is not talking about that , the first bike change of pogi
after arenberg when the main group formed , they had the cars behind them and pogi had a slow puncture and changed bike . he quickly got back again to the group , but while pogi was chasing back , van aert punctured on a cobbled sector and had to stop immediately . he had a bigger gap to the front group he had to close after he got going again
It's close and still very far away. Just look at the speeds...
The front went invariably faster on cobbles (before and after WvA's attack). MvdP and the ones able to follow were always faster in between the secteurs, but not so much on the cobbles.
The reason is obvious: (mainly) Pog and WvA tried to force it on cobbles, while MvdP had every reason to keep the pace as flat as possible so others could follow and help him. He couldn't just ride everyone off his wheel on the cobbles as they wouldn't cooperate after the cobbles. In the front the situation was the other way around with Pog trying to get rid of WvA or at least tire him more and more.
WvA was smart enough to attack when MvdP came too close, and he was smart enough not to push it if the difference was comfortable, but to push if the difference got smaller. The same way as they toyed with Remco in Flanders, the front 2 knew that MvdP was chasing on his limit and if he got too close, they had something left in the tank to prevent him closing in.
Not a WvA fan but definately happy for him. Apart from the Tour stages, this second monument feels like a confirmation of his greatness in the spring. Many good riders have a great day where they have either luck or things just clicked at the right time (like Pedersen with the worlds, Philipsem, Van Baarle and Stuyven). They all have one big victory to their name. Van Aert is a level above that and now that is also reflected in his honours list.
Yes it is good to see. If his palmares truly reflected his level and talent, he'd have 5+ Monuments by now.
That's silly. Why would he have 5+ monuments? Maybe if he got 3 more wins, MVP or Pogacar would have less for example. Most of classics he didn't win, were because he isn't/wasn't good enough, physically or tactically (e.g. PR 2022)
He’s had at least 3 bad crashes that resulted in near career ending injuries, he’s had some poorly timed mechanicals, he missed the cobbles season one year due to Covid, and he’s had to deal with Pogacar. In previous eras, Pogacar would have stuck to his lane.
He was very unlucky in the 2023 PR but that's it.
He wouldn't beat MVP in 2024 even without crashes (DDV).
But luck also played a role in his win 4 days ago.
Edit: Forgot the covid in 2022. Would be able follow Pogacar and MVP? I don't think so.
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I notice you ignored the 3 horrific crashes and the potential impact on his development vs MVDP
Wout was a monster in 2022, it's possible. It likely also affected him for Paris-Roubaix. I think 5+ is a stretch but he has come very close a LOT of times and has missed entire campaigns through injuries.
I didn't. For me it's impossible to know how much he lost in those crashes.
1 - he was clearly the best rider in 2020 (he adapted better than MVP for example) after his crash in the 2019 TdF. I don't really know much he was hampered by this crash.
2 - His crash in DDV was after a total dominance of MVP in E3. WVA wasn't clearly in good shape to compete with MVP in both PR and RVV.
3 - I think his 2025 season was bad due to his crash in the Vuelta. Without the crash, would he be better in PR and win it? I don't think so but it's just an opinion. RVV is out of reach due to Pogacar.
Again, I can't really say how would be his palmares without those crashes.
I think he was better in '22 in spring, didn't he completely implode in E3 the year before
- Feb 20, 2012
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Van Aert is mostly explained by his ability flattening out earlier than some others due to Visma being further ahead of the pack in 2020-2022/2023 than they are now.
And it really doesn't help him that Van der Poel and Pogacar are just more naturally gifted at RVV. Van Aert doesn't really retain the explosiveness super deep into a race.
And it really doesn't help him that Van der Poel and Pogacar are just more naturally gifted at RVV. Van Aert doesn't really retain the explosiveness super deep into a race.
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