Despite his various exploits during the Tour de France, Wout van Aert did not find favor with everyone! Worse, according to Bjarne Riis, former winner of the Grande Boucle in 1996, his strategy would absolutely not serve his team. “He’s been running stupid for a few days”began the one nicknamed Herning’s eagle for the Laatste Nieuws. “He has already used a lot of energy. Whereas if I had to put in place a strategy to win the Tour, he would have a very big role because he is a rider who changes the game. If he burns all his cartridges, he will be too tired and he will then have a good chance of being absent on the decisive day of the Tour […] There is a concern for leadership in this team. They don’t have the courage to call Wout to order because he has a big personality. But if they continue like this, they will lose the Tour”he concludes.
An opinion shared by another former cyclist, Christian Horner. “He constantly cost his team energy in the first part of the Tour”estimated the former winner of the Vuelta in 2013. “In the second stage, for example, they had to keep Vingegaard in a good position for the sprint. Also, when approaching the intermediate sprints, the team always has to work. This would not have been the case if they had chosen, for example, Rohan Dennis instead of van Aert.”
With two stage victories and several days in yellow, the Campinois was a big player during the first week of the Tour. Christian Horner also understood why Jumbo-Visma chose the Belgian for the Tour de France. “Obviously, I understand the team’s decision. For stage wins, Wout van Aert is a certainty. Moreover, the sponsors appreciate him because he shows up all the time.”
However, his team does not really benefit from his qualities to try to overshadow Pogacar. “His presence does not help the Jumbo for the yellow jersey. During the fourth stage, van Aert won the race in impressive fashion. On the Côte du Cap Blanc-Nez Jumbo-Visma managed to get rid of Pogacar. Then , van Aert went off on his own. If he had taken Vingegaard in his wake, he might have gained more than 15 seconds. Plus the bonus seconds. It might have been an important moment.”
The American also strongly criticized the 27-year-old Belgian on the cobbles. “van Aert wanted to win himself and didn’t think regarding the team.” Somewhat ungrateful remarks. Because the former Belgian champion was a real driving force in helping the leader to limit the damage once morest the Slovenian monster.
“Vingegaard is now 39 seconds behind Pogacar. If van Aert hadn’t been riding that way, I think Vingegaard would have been in the yellow jersey by now.” A somewhat harsh conclusion as Wout van Aert was one of the leaders of this first week.
