"I don't want to focus on the points for green" - Wout van Aert prioritizes World Championships over Tour de France goals
CyclingSaturday, 24 December 2022 at 11:43
The goals for the Jumbo-Visma riders have been revealed yesterday at the team's presentation in Amsterdam, and the riders' schedules better known. Wout van Aert's decision to prioritize the World Championships over the Tour de France has also been made clear.
"Green was a great adventure, but stage victories are more memorable and the World Championships is the higher goal. That's why I don't want to focus on the points for green from the start," van Aert told Sporza following the team's presentation.
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Whilst this year, as the Belgian focused on the points classification, the standings were decided from very early on, the versatile supertalent admits that he will likely not enter the 2023 with the same goal.
“It could become a goal during the Tour, but I will choose my days much more [carefully], and in the final week you still have many opportunities. You can make choices then, and it’s much more sensible that way," van Aert continued. He's mentioned that he may look out for the green jersey if it fits, but not pursuing it is also an option.
The cobbled classics, Tour des Flandres and Paris-Roubaix more specifically, will be his main goal for the spring. With the Glasgow World Championships taking place the weeks following the Tour de France, there is a change of priorities and preparation schedule in order to arrive to both in the best form.
He's decided to skips Liège-Bastogne-Liège for example, where he finished third this year. “It was a difficult decision not to go to Liège, but I want to focus on the summer because the Tour and the World Championships are so close," he concluded.
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- Anyone who thinks the Giro is a training camp for the Tour, for Vingegaard, is not right in the head. First of all, he is not Pogacar and secondly, UAE will send almost A team to make Jonas life miserable and make the race difficult. If the danish fisherman competes in Giro, his chances drop from 20 to 2 percent. I also read some foolish statements that the 2026 Tour is against Pogi and I'm dying of laughter. 2026 is the most ideal Tour that Pogi will ever ride. Not a single stage is difficult except 20st. Everything else is made for UAE to control. Every mountain stage has 30-40km of easy terrain before the last climb.NikkoNicco11-01-2026
- it doesn’t matter what Jonas is doing with the houses, the article is trash. and the fact that he is buying houses in Denmark with no criticism makes everyone’s point all the stronger. it is Tadej’s life. he isn’t breaking the law. he can live where he wishes how he wishes. and his “side” isn’t quoted, which especially irks me. it makes it sound as if he is living in Monaco just to cheat taxes. maybe he is there because it is an ideal training base year round. or any other number or reasons. and, it happens to be a good financial decision.mij11-01-2026
- Unbelievably I remember people saying 2024 Pogi was avoiding Jonas by riding the Giro. Seriously why wouldn’t Jonas ride the Giro? Only GT he hasn’t won. It’s a pretty obvious and logical move.mobk11-01-2026
- it must suck to have to admit that the time to win is only going to be a result of someone else’s retirement, not improved skill or speed.mij11-01-2026
- National champs are supposed to be individual events, rider v rider not raced as teams.wipperman9511-01-2026
- National champs are supposed to be individual events, rider v rider not raced as teams.wipperman9511-01-2026
- I assume Plapp will be about as popular as a fart in a gas mask this season on the team bus. What an absolute clown shoe. Attacking his own team-mate with a lap and a half to go, bringing back his rivals with you, then fluffing it yourself to let the other guy win. You’d assume that if they had race radios, the DS would be telling Plapp to stop p*sing on Durbo’s chips, but at the same time you’d also expect a World Tour rider to understand this kind of basic racecraft. Felt like watching Dwars with Nielsen Powless and Visma. Hats off to the winner though, and him sledging his former team for giving him the boot, haha. Unreal scenes.antipodeanpedalfan11-01-2026
- You can write the same article replacing JV with a whole bunch of names. Every race needs competitors and wants the best they can get. Jonas has a Vuelta, 2 Tours and no Giro, you said it yourself so - Go figure. Has he ruled out the Tour? Am convinced if Tadej decides to do the Giro, Jonas won’t cancel, it’s nothing to do with dodging, it’s about deciding for himself and not living for others. Jonas has offered plenty of competition to Tadej, it’s not his only purpose or obligation. Had there not been a Tadej, he’d be considered one of the too 3 GT riders ever, he’s just a bit unlucky not to clearly be ahead of Froome and no other recent rider comes close, though Rogliç might have given him a good run if not in the same team.Mistermaumau11-01-2026
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