"He thinks it's a ridiculous course" - Bakelants gives insight into Wout van Aert's mindset ahead of World Championships
Cycling
Ahead of the 2023 Glasgow World Championships, men's elite road race, one of the main favourites for the Rainbow Jersey is Belgium's Wout van Aert. Ex-pro turned analyst Jan Bakelants has spoken to van Aert and revealed his thoughts.
“He is burned out on this. Wout firmly believes in it, but he thinks it's a ridiculous course. Wout said that it is good that it suits him, but that it really does not matter," the former Tour de France stage winner on the podcast Wielerclub Wattage.
The Glasgow course is incredibly technical with around 50 corners set to be included. Those tricky turns combined with the typically British, wet and windy summer weather, a proper bike handler is expected to be the man that takes the win.
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Wout van Aert is heading up an incredibly talented Belgium team that also includes the likes of recent Tour de France green jersey winner, Jasper Philipsen and reigning world champion, Remco Evenepoel.
Whoever wins this one will truly deserve it. I used to live in Glasgow and cycled most of the routes roads off an on over the years. There is nowhere to rest on the route. The road rises in short order. It is up and down constantly. After every brief false flat another climb comes up before you have time to think. On top of that the road surface is rough - very rough in places. Scottish councils like to have big hard wearing granite chips in their road asphalt. It will be very very tiring. If it rains - which is likely, it will be very dangerous. Good luck guys!
“He is burned out on this. Wout firmly believes in it, but he thinks it's a ridiculous course. Wout said that it is good that it suits him, but that it really does not matter" I realize we are getting a translation, but I have no idea what he is saying. What does he mean by "burned out"? How can Wout believe in it, but think it is "ridiculous"? How can it be "good that it suits him," but still "does not matter"? Also: how would he know any of this, and why is he saying it publicly?
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- Is this a joke?Jkolner12316-03-2025
- He has declined leadership though in the past? Lack of confidence? Hedging your bets works sometimes, at other times it is better to commit and go in big.Cyclingsbestfan16-03-2025
- Pidcock is starting sound like a more mature rider. It may be the media reports when he was at ineos skewing things, but he starting to sound like a defferent person.Cyclingsbestfan16-03-2025
- Yep If he could just get some consistency going with his form, he would be a rider to be reckoned with in any gc race. As it is he blows hot and cold.Cyclingsbestfan16-03-2025
- I was watching the race live, and it seems like this crash could have been avoided. A pre-race course inspection and appropriate signage.yuckly16-03-2025
- Jonas won T-A last tear and wanted to do P-N this year. Jorgensen also wanted to do it, he declined every si gle opportunity to be a solo leader, eevry stage race Jonas doesn't do, Girovappaxbipmv16-03-2025
- I agree, he either needs a surprise attack in the final, win a sprint or just somehow overpower everyonevappaxbipmv16-03-2025
- Did old man Bruyneel make this point before Jonas crashed out?Renz16-03-2025
- Good win for Ayuso. He has appeared a bit inconsistent on mountain stages in the past; absolutely brilliant on some but then cracking on others.Cooldude16-03-2025
- A little caution is understandable. Just ask Roglic.Cooldude16-03-2025