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Wout van Aert deeply disappointed after weak and disappointing time trial, remains confident for upcoming stages
CyclingFriday, 05 July 2024 at 20:08
Let's not beat around the bush. Wout van Aert did not come into his own in the first time trial of the Tour de France on Friday. The Belgian riding for Visma | Lease a Bike already noticed along the way that it wasn’t going to happen, but, realistic as he is, he shared his story afterward.
"I had no feeling. The start went well, but the first uphill sections were already tough. I don’t think I rode a particularly good time," he judged immediately after finishing. "I also noticed from the coaching that I wasn’t really competing for the win. Then you might take slightly fewer risks," he told the gathered press afterward.
But why then, because of a fast start? "Maybe. That was the plan because the focus was on the first part. Maybe I rode too hard in the first section," he said, searching for reasons that might explain his off day. "I didn’t know the times, but at the second checkpoint, I saw a red box. That means you are certainly not in the lead."
Van Aert won't let himself be knocked off course: put his name down for the upcoming Tour stages!
"These are not the answers I wanted. The feeling just wasn’t there. I felt pretty quickly that I couldn’t keep the pace I wanted to maintain. From that moment onwards, you are suffering more than usual, so the result is a good reflection of how my legs feel at the moment," said the honest Belgian in his post-finish analysis.
"It is, of course, relative," he further explained. "I just couldn’t accelerate over the small hills, and in a time trial like this, that’s the key to success. For the rest of the Tour, it will also change little. I will give all I've got again on Saturday. I will aim for a good result. This weekend is very important for me and the team, especially Sunday," he referred to the gravel stage.
"Unfortunately, I am not as consistent as I normally am, but there have also been good days in this Tour. We just have to keep up the courage," he noted with an eye on the important weeks to come.
In just under three weeks, the Olympic time trial is on the schedule. "There is no time trial in this Tour that really resembles the one in Paris. This one maybe a little more than the one in Nice. I gave it my all, but I hope for better legs at the Olympics," said Van Aert.
Does the Dwars door Vlaanderen crash still weigh on Van Aert’s fluctuating performance?
Van Aert was also asked about his crash on day three of La Grande Boucle as a possible cause for his highly fluctuating performances. "Could this still be because of my crash earlier in the Tour? I don’t know, although I do feel that I am currently alternating between very strong days and weaker ones," acknowledged the versatile rider. "The consistency I used to have seems a bit lost. Maybe that’s also logical, considering how hard I crashed in March," he referred to his crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen. "Nonetheless, I remain very motivated."
"So far, it has been a very tough Tour," concluded Van Aert. "But that is always the case. It’s a unique race in that respect. The first week was difficult, especially because I fell at the beginning. However, it has not cost me my confidence. I expect the best legs are still to come. I am convinced of that. I will have to take it day by day."
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024