Van Aert shows off blazing KOM on Strava and unveils his program: "Flanders, Roubaix, Tour de France and Giro"
Cyclo-cross
Wout van Aert was unstoppable in the mud at the Cyclo-cross World Cup in Dendermonde. The Belgian star from Visma | Lease a Bike consistently lapped the course a staggering 10 to 20 seconds faster than his competitors. Strava data reveals just how fast he was, with jaw-dropping lap times that dominate the leaderboard. Alongside these stats, some intriguing names appear near the top of the ranking. Meanwhile, more details are emerging about the superstar’s road racing calendar following his cyclo-cross season.
According to HLN, Van Aert’s road season schedule has largely been decided. The Belgian multi-discipline phenomenon is slated to kick off his season on February 17 at the Clasica Jaen in Spain, known as the Strade Bianche of the Iberian Peninsula. Just two days later, he will compete in the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal. His first cobbled classic will be the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on March 1, followed by a high-altitude training camp in Tenerife.
With those experiences in his legs, Van Aert will then focus on the spring classics, with the E3 Saxo Classic and Dwars door Vlaanderen serving as ideal tune-ups for his two major goals: the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. The spring campaign will wrap up with the Amstel Gold Race in the Netherlands. After a brief pause, Van Aert is set to make his long-anticipated debut in the Giro d’Italia, a race he missed last year due to injury. Naturally, the Tour de France remains on the schedule, with a promising opening week offering plenty of opportunities for the versatile rider.
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Van Aert was astronomically faster than the rest in Dendermonde
Wout van Aert uploaded his entire cyclo-cross performance in Dendermonde to Strava. Covering a distance of 17.68 kilometers, he completed the race in 1 hour, 2 minutes, and 53 seconds. The cyclocross superstar flew through the mud, not only claiming victory for his palmarès but also earning the KOM for Dendermonde. In fact, he currently holds the three fastest times for the segment. His fastest lap? The third round, completed in an astonishing 7:29 minutes.
Van Aert took the lead during the second lap, following a powerful comeback in the opening round. From there, he delivered his strongest performance, completing lap two in 7:40 minutes. This was followed by his fastest lap, with lap four also clocking an impressive 7:36 minutes. While his pace slightly dropped in the final rounds, only his last two laps exceeded eight minutes.
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Top 10 on Strava: Familiar and surprising names in Dendermonde
A glance at the top 10 on the Dendermonde Strava segment reveals some intriguing names. Unsurprisingly, familiar faces such as Eli Iserbyt (8th, 7:57 minutes), Pim Ronhaar (5th, 7:47 minutes), Michael Vantourenhout (3rd, 7:46 minutes), and Joran Wyseure (7th, 7:55 minutes) make the list. However, in a surprising shared third-place spot is Britain's Cameron Mason. And who secured second place? The 24-year-old Frenchman Damien Beton, ranked 32nd in the World Cup race, who somehow managed to clock a single lap at 7:41 minutes despite finishing far behind overall!
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Latest Comments
- This was very informative! Luiz Antonio Duarte Ferreiraluizantonioduarteferreira02-01-2025
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- 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