🇧🇪 Wout van Aert is testing a front disc wheel for the upcoming #Paris2024 ITT! 🤔 Interested to see if he'll actually use it on Saturday! 😋 📸 cyclingspy on Instagram / oli_cx_pix #CyclingRoad
"I definitely needed the Tour to take a step forward" - Wout van Aert confident into Olympic Games; Double disk wheel bike possible for time-trial
CyclingFriday, 26 July 2024 at 11:08
Wout van Aert will take on the Olympic Games still in rising form. The Belgian has already explored the time-trial route and was surprised with the conditions on the road. Ahead of the race, the Belgian talks about the possibility of riding a time-trial bike with double disk wheel, Remco Evenepoel and also the effect the Tour de France has had on him.
"No, it was not just a test. It is certainly an option. We have been preparing for this for a while. It is super fast, but the right conditions are needed," he told Sporza in a press conference ahead of the race together with Evenepoel, who will have better chances of a medal on Saturday. "We will decide on Saturday. It mainly depends on the wind, because you have to be able to keep your bike under control. I was happy when I saw the course, because there is a lot of [wind] shelter. So it could be an option, even if it looks unusual."
The roads were rather criticized by Evenepoel, van Aert shared a similar opinion regarding the 32 kilometers of the route in and around Paris. "The course is super fast, even faster than expected. There is little room for rhythm changes. Just like Remco, I was surprised by the road surface. It is not as good as you would expect for such a big event."
Like Evenepoel, he also has to deal with fatigue from the three-week race, but this does not mean he will be in an inferior level to that of his rivals when the key moment arrives. "Will that be enough? I believe so. I was able to ride the last days of the Tour in a different way than usual. I had little to gain and my mind was already in Paris. I feel good at the moment. The Tour is in my legs, but I am confident that I will be good on Saturday. I definitely needed the Tour to take a step forward."
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Although it must be said, van Aert has not particularly excelled against the clock this year - understandably, as he first put full focus on the cobbled classics, and then in the Tour de France where he searched for victories in the sprints and helped his team in the mountains. "My experience has taught me that it is better if you can prepare yourself 100 percent. In that respect, the Tour is a disadvantage. But for the road race, I needed this Tour."
"That first time trial (stage 7 of the Tour de France, ed.) in particular was definitely one of my lesser days. I was not myself. I am convinced that it will be better on Saturday. Okay, it may sound unambitious, but the goal is to ride a time trial that I can be happy with and proud of. That (last one, ed.) was a while ago. I'm not here to raise hopes. I hope to finish as close as possible. Who knows, I might finish after the 3 favorites and still be satisfied".
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