“If Van Aert has a chance to become world champion, it’s this year”: Former Dutch rider backs Belgian over Van der Poel for Worlds
Cycling
Bram Tankink needed a little time to make his choice, but when asked which rider he would rather see win the World Championships in Montréal, the former Dutch professional ultimately sided with Wout van Aert.
Tankink had to choose between two riders from the same generation who have already built extraordinary palmarès. His first instinct was to back fellow Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, but after reconsidering the question, Tankink changed his answer.
“Can I answer the question again?” Tankink said on the De Rode Lantaarn podcast. “Wout van Aert.”
The Belgian's performances at the Vuelta a España appear to have strengthened that preference. Van Aert has already won two stages in Spain and has also played an important role in helping teammate Matthew Brennan complete four stage victories.
For Tankink, however, there are signs that Van Aert is also using the race as preparation for something much bigger later this month.
Wout van Aert won stage 15 of the 2026 Vuelta a España
Van Aert's Vuelta form is raising expectations
Tankink admitted that there is an element of personal sympathy behind his choice, but he also believes Van Aert has a genuine opportunity to complete one of the few major omissions from his palmarès.
“He deserves it, to win that big prize after Paris-Roubaix,” Tankink said. “It puts him on the same level as Van der Poel, two riders of the same generation. And if Van Aert has a chance to become world champion, then it’s this year.”
A road world title in Montréal would provide another major milestone in the Belgian's career, and Tankink believes the circumstances may be unusually favorable. Van Aert's current Vuelta campaign certainly provides reason for optimism. “The way he is scoring those mountain points, that has purely to do with training preparation,” Tankink explained.
“It’s really not that he necessarily wants that mountain jersey, because he probably won't take it to the finish anyway. Repeatedly doing those efforts uphill; in his head, he is really thinking about that World Championship.”
Read also
Belgium's two-leader strategy could decide Van Aert's chances
There is, however, another major question surrounding Van Aert's chances: how Belgium will use him alongside Remco Evenepoel.
Evenepoel is also one of the principal favorites for the rainbow jersey, meaning Belgium will arrive in Canada with two riders capable of winning the race. Their different strengths could make them an exceptionally difficult combination for rival nations to control, but it also creates the possibility of a tactical dilemma.
If Evenepoel launches an attack before the decisive finale, Van Aert could find himself unable to follow and dependent on other teams to chase. Conversely, Belgium could use Van Aert's presence to put pressure on the peloton before Evenepoel makes his move.
Tankink sees an obvious possibility. “But Van Aert can go even earlier than Evenepoel, right?” he suggested.
That possibility would give Belgium another card to play on a Montréal course expected to produce a selective race. Van Aert does not necessarily have to wait for Evenepoel to make the first move, and if his Vuelta form continues to improve, he could potentially force the other favorites into a decision of their own.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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