"I haven't trained on the time trial bike at all” – But Wout van Aert is ready to fight in the coming days
Cycling
Team Visma | Lease a Bike endured a tough day in the Tour de
France time trial, with Jonas Vingegaard and Matteo Jorgenson each conceding
close to 90 seconds to the top contenders. The result was a setback for the
team, particularly after both riders had delivered strong time trial
performances just a month ago at the Critérium du Dauphiné. Jorgenson now sits
fifth overall, 1:22 behind race leader Tadej Pogacar.
Wout van Aert, meanwhile, was never in contention on the
stage, by choice. "I haven't trained on the time trial bike at all
lately," he told Sporza after the race. "Before the Tour, I had
already planned to only go all out if I was still in a good position in the
general classification. That's not the case, so I'm focusing on the coming
days."
Still searching for his first stage win since 2022, van Aert
acknowledged the importance of preparation in the discipline. The Belgian has
had a difficult 2025 so far, but showed on the gravel on stage 9 of the Giro
that he still has what it takes.
"For a specific discipline like time trials, it's
important to prepare well. I don't stand a chance against the fastest riders on
this course anyway, hence the choice."
His focus has now turned to the upcoming punchy road stages,
as he looks to ride into better shape. "I was happy I felt better
yesterday, but there's still room for improvement," he said.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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- guess what Valgren, you're 34, and no you're not good enough. sorry to say.mij14-11-2026
- I'm a sepp fan and like to think he earned that LOL, indulge me : ) I think Jonas was fine. Roglic did not want to concede to Sepp. and I don't think you ever attack your own teammate in the leaders jersey if he is holding his own, which Sepp just about was.mij14-11-2026
- enough time? he's 24 years old. He's won 10 races over the last 2 years and some are significant. I won't argue about his attitude being good - it needs to improve. But with some coaching and mentorship he has a lot of winning ahead of him and has plenty of time to win a GT. I don't think he will ever beat Tadej, but everyone else is fair game Look at Mas and Valverde - they were 31 and 29, respectively, when they won the Vuelta.mij14-11-2026
- Pogacar has a fine head on his shoulders.Careful investments and a couple of coffee shops sounds like a wonderful way to chill after an intense career.Stay healthy GOAT.
Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
- I live in Ljubljana and often go on trips in the surrounding area, where I frequently see young cyclists in 'Pogi Team' jerseys training, either alone or in groups. By simply motivating so many young people to take up cycling, Tadej has already achieved something truly significant.Velijo14-11-2026
- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026 - Indeed! A reluctant gift maybe. Even more reluctant gift from Roglic! Tho I can’t see that Rog would have beaten Ving anyway.Lozza14-11-2026
- That really nasty crash in 2022 Liege must have played a big part - broken ribs, pneumothorax. You only have to look at his points tallies pre and post.Lozza14-11-2026
- Yeah, good luck getting tv and race organisers like ASO etc to part with their cash!Lozza14-11-2026
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