"Are you an influencer or a rider?" - Wout van Aert questioned by former Paris-Roubaix winner
CyclingThursday, 24 October 2024 at 14:46
2024 has been something of a mixed season as far as Wout van Aert can be concerned. The Belgian did have notable highlights at the Vuelta a Espana and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, but crashes consistently scuppered any momentum Van Aert was able to build up.
The most recent of these crashes came in the third week of the aforementioned Vuelta a Espana. Leading both the King of the Mountains and Green Jersey classifications, Van Aert was in the breakaway and aiming for his 4th stage victory of the Spanish Grand Tour on stage 16. Sadly though, that's where things went wrong as he crashed hard on a slippery descent, leaving the race in the back of an ambulance and ultimately being forced to end his season as a whole.
Reflecting on the 2024 season in professional cycling and specifically the year of Van Aert, 2011 Paris-Roubaix winner Johan Vansummeren shared some sympathy for his compatriot's repeated bad luck. "You don't get better from such high-speed crashes of course," begins the 43-year-old Belgian, who retired back in 2016 via Het Belang van Limburg.
Although it's likely Van Aert is a much more recognisable name than Vansummeren to most cycling fans, the latter does have something the Team Visma | Lease a Bike star has been desperately searching for since 2020... a monument victory. With Van Aert now the wrong side of 30, Vansummeren is also beginning to fear that chances are running out for another monumental success. "Wout has blown out thirty candles and another chance to win that top classic has been missed," he notes.
Nevertheless, Van Aert's recovery is coming along well. Off the crutches and back on the bike, the Belgian recently insisted he will be seen in cyclocross this winter. Some aspects of Van Aert's work to get back fit have drawn the ire of the former AG2R La Mondiale and Garmin Sharp rider though. "I'm getting tired of all his videos," Vansummeren complains, referring to the regular updates posted to Van Aert's official social media pages. "Throwing crutches away in a container, involving the wife and children. Are you an influencer or a rider?"
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- My personal opinion is that UAE has a proprietary cocktail that isn't on the market and will probably never be on the market. It's happened before in sport. Look at BALCO and THG with the baseball situation. UAE could very well have their OWN scientists and chemists making a proprietary cocktail just for them. They have what I call "fk you money" which means UNLIMITED money. It's not out of the range of real possibilities. I've seen a few of your comments and decided to look and see what you've said in other articles. That led me to a few of your comments and I felt it would be ok to speak my opinion. Obviously my opinion doesn't go over very well with most but I've also seen people say "you are everything wrong with the sport" to you😂 and I thought maybe I can talk with this guy. You may not agree with me which is fine but the conversation needs to happen Cheers 🤘🏻🇬🇧
kaos03-05-2025 - I actually agree. Jonas and Visma put off altitude camp untill May I believe to help him closer to the TDF. I do also believe we will see Jonas retire suddenly and soon 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- This is what I've been saying but nobody is wanting to listen. I don't know if I'm right but I'd like to see the spring classics season affect Pogi at the TDF 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- I can't believe how naive some people are. You must be new to this sport. The history of doping is so entrenched in this sport. It's a very real thing and it didn't stop with Lance. You're absolutely crazy if you think this sport is "clean" 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- I agree mate. I've watched this sport for over 40 years and something is going on within Team UAE and its not above board. Yes they test but when has testing ever caught these massive doping programs so to say "he tests clean" is a farce. We know the testing system is a joke. The bio passport was introduced to help catch doping jut it had the opposite effect. It HELPS these dopers stay within the limits. We will probably never get "proof" about Pogi and UAE as a whole but it's clear something is going on. The entire peleton has access to the same nutrition, technology, science etc etc but when you see pogi I. THE SADDLE going up a 24% gradient, nose breathing, like he was shot from a rocket while all the other top level riders are struggling to even stop from tipping over, there's something not right. All we can hope for is for someone to come forward after their career has come to an end that was at UAE during this time. I believe we are seeing a new substance within the sport. It could very well be a proprietary cocktail made just for UAE that isn't on the market and will never be on the market so it will remain undetectable. It has happened in sport before. Look at THG made by BALCO used by baseball players. That was a proprietary cocktail that never hit the market. With all the UNLIMITED money UAE has I believe they have their own scientists making them a "special brew" that we MAY NEVER see or know about but the best chance we have of this coming out is a disgruntled ex staff member or ex rider from UAE and it may not come out for 10 or 15 years but I believe we WILL find out in years to come 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- Not sure why this article popped a year after it was published. I've been saying this all of last season and all of 2025 season. Pogi has gotten arrogant. Last year was bad and this year he races with rainbow jersey so it may even be worse. I like to see that he's not had the success he wanted for 2025 tho. I was hoping that would bring him down a peg or two. One thing is certain for me tho and that's the fact that Pogi has now reached a level of arrogance and he plays nice to the cameras to make his "new" fans think he's awesome but those of us that have watched the sport for decades see right thru his act. He's fun to watch race but I've lost all interest in him after 2024 season.kaos03-05-2025
- I've not even looked at the start list for the Giro yet but I'll be watching every minute. I don't usually go for the favourite. I find it too easy to go for the favourite but I'll usually pick 2. One I THINK will win and one I would LIKE to win. I certainly don't want Ayuso to win. The lad is arrogant and he's a problem child for UAE. I'm not a big fan of UAE anyway. I feel something isn't right within their camp. One thing is for sure tho, GT's have plenty of excitement and usually some surprises and that's the fun of it all. Probably the best part of cycling is seeing new talent make a name for themselves and win stages. That's what the sport is all about for me. Lads I've never heard of that leave their mark in the sport 🤘🏻🇬🇧kaos03-05-2025
- Can't see Remco making an impact at the Tour. Maybe next year if he stops riding very near parked vehicles on narrow roads at speed.Renz03-05-2025
- Utter stupidity. HE the the premier rider for them. Why is he pacing someone else who has not even proven themselves. That too in the light of the TT to come. 5 mil for domestique . One wont see these antics from Pogi or Jonas unless they are completely out.abstractengineer03-05-2025
- It's irrelevant whether the riders will oppose safety measures or not. The UCI have demonstrated time and again that they don't care what the riders think. The UCI will implement whatever they want (which based on recent history, has nothing related to rider safety anyway). Also, it's not like the riders have a vote anyway, so it's a hilarious and irrelevant point that you are making.Pogboom03-05-2025
Did Sagan not do the same, or do i remember wrong?
It takes media to make your name worldwide famous. Including victories for sure.
But in our time, media is needed. As others says, sponsors want media stuff.
So sad when an ex-pro jumps on the publicity bandwagon.
agreed with everything everyone as posted, and let's remember perhaps the most important issue - the sponsorship model of cycling.
the riders postings aren't just for them - they are for the sponsors. posts are perhaps even more important when you're injured.
Tadej is in the news daily because he is racing and riding. his sponsor gets love because of that.
Wout is unfortunately injured. he has to do something to draw attention, and posting is all he can do. otherwise no one thinks of him, which means there is much less attention for his sponsors.
if cyclists don't make themselves into pseudo celebrities and draw some attention to their sponsors, the model breaks very quickly.
plus, when Wout does ride, he either wins or his teammate wins. National team = Remco gets the olympic gold. Trade team - laporte gets Ghent Wevelgem.
this is a not smart comment to make by whomever this guy is. try posting something and we might know you LOL
Yep, this is a good take on social media and cycling. Need to stay relevant. For him, his fans, and his team/sponsors.
Such a dumb comment by Vansummeren. Seriously bro, if you don’t want to see his stuff, unfollow. It’s not that difficult.
Hey you kids, get off of my lawn!
and I'm tired of "the Vansummerens": morbid people who live stalking, gossiping and criticizing the lives of others on social media. Is there anything more interesting to spend their time on?. Ignore the socials media, your brain will thank you.
Even if he stopped today he would be remembered as a tour master bro
If it annoys Johan whoever, stop following him and let WVA be
Pretty disrespectful.
One can be both and as an influencer earn significantly more money and coverage for sponsors than just being a rider. Check out WVA vs Jonas reach and status in the same team and WVA is on a lifetime contract whatever that means but it is unheard of in cycling.
why would anybody want to give wout a hard time about a few video updates for his huge fanbase ? i think of myself as a van der poel fan, but wout us an unbelievably talented guy and an extraordinarily NICE guy. he's really been through hell this year, and some retired rider wants to kick him when he's down, just for trying to keep everyone's spirits up, including his own? what an a$$hōIę…
Well said. Consummate team player, dedicated family man, brilliant rider who has overcome some terrible injuries...and occasional poster of humorous videos on social media. Not a lot to be critical of, although that doesn't stop some of these old-timers.