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Adrie van der Poel touches on Wout van Aert's changing mindset: "That's the biggest mistake he can make"
CyclingSaturday, 04 November 2023 at 10:40
Adrie van der Poel believes Wout van Aert should not think much or change his way of racing. In a recent interview he discusses a bit Mathieu van der Poel's rival.
“When you see the attack Mathieu has on his best days, it doesn't seem like a good tactic for anyone to race around with him because at some point you will be left behind. From now on, not only I, but also other leaders will watch the situation and let it be done," Adrie said in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad. "I have often had my enthusiasm punished by Mathieu."
Van der Poel often wins by being the absolute strongest on the road, such as his wins at Milano-Sanremo and the World Championships where no-one could follow him. Wout van Aert has argued in the past that it may be a better tactic to not try and follow the Dutchman immediately upon some of his attack but instead race at his own pace.
However, father Adrie does not believe that would ultimately benefit him: “I have read that he wants to adjust his racing behavior. That's the biggest mistake he can make. Then he starts racing against his nature. Everyone can do what they want, but it didn't look good for cycling."
He does think that in some occasions to race differently would be a better tactic, giving the example of the European Championships where he sprinted to second place after being led out by Arnaud de Lie in the finale. "If Wout pulls there for De Lie, he wins the race by fifteen [bike] lengths," van der Poel argues.
The victory fell to Christophe Laporte who anticipated the attacks on the final climb, and he believes that van Aert should've had a similar tactic. "Then as a national coach I would dare to gamble: I take all the shit on myself, but we turn the tables: Van Aert for De Lie. Whatever the opposition does not expect."
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