Van Aert already has one very big supporter for his plans for the Giro (also with an eye on the World Championships and the Olympics)

The idea of Wout van Aert making his Giro debut has not been met with universal enthusiasm, but Sven Vanthourenhout stands firmly in favor. The head coach of the Belgian cyclocross and road team expressed his support for Van Aert's new direction during the European Cyclocross Championships weekend in Pontchateau, as reported by In de Leiderstrui.

"I'm positive about it, it excites me," Vanthourenhout remarked, seemingly predisposed to the notion of Van Aert participating in the Giro d'Italia by 2024. "At his age, it's time for a fresh challenge and a shift in objectives. That goal remains winning races, in a way he likes and is used to, albeit on a novel trajectory."

Vanthourenhout obviously knows Van Aert well. Having been the Belgian national coach since November 2020, he has observed Van Aert at two cyclocross World Championships and three on the road. Van Aert's routine in recent years has been fairly consistent, partaking in the Tour de France since 2019 and only slightly tweaking his lead-up events. The spring classics have always been part of his program.

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Vanthourenhout is skeptical about Van Aert targeting a Giro classification

When asked by this website whether riding the Giro could also be a better preparation for the Olympic Games and the World Championships, Vanthourenhout shrugs. "Someone like Wout can handle a lot; he will cope with it. We'll see if the World Championships with a Giro under his belt in 2024 yield a different result. In 2023 it was very close, he said so himself. In '24 it will be apparent whether that gets turned into a win. A diverse approach and schedule next year could prove decisive."

The fact that Van Aert and Jumbo-Visma might aim for a good overall classification in the Giro, that's where the Belgian coach is less enthusiastic. "The fact that he's chosen the Giro and wants to do something different, that should be the focus. Try to win a stage first, and if that succeeds, a second one. Or to take the pink jersey, those are more important matters than riding for the general classification now. Those little gaps that are still there in his list of achievements, he will want to fill those. I don't know if a classification fits into that."