"I'm definitely not one of the favourites" - Wout van Aert downplays his chances of taking the rainbow jersey
Cycling
Wout van Aert downplays his chances of taking the win on the morning of the World Championships. Perhaps a bit of a bluff taking into consideration his main favourite status for the past three worlds, today in Glasgow he will have another opportunity to try and strike big.
“It may well have an impact. It's not what I'm used to, but I hope it gives me wings," van Aert told Wielerflits, comment on his preparation towards the race. "I think I have a good chance today, but I'm definitely not one of the favourites. I rode a good Tour, but maybe a little less than last year. The two weeks that followed were also different than I am used to. It remains to be seen how I will feel, hopefully it will work out well.”
Van Aert is one cog in the big wheel that is the Belgian national team. Alongside him, both Remco Evenepoel and Jasper Philipsen are clear contenders for a victory, whilst the team also features many weapons in the likes of Victor Campenaerts, Tiesj Benoot and Jasper Stuyven. With this amount of depth and a very technical and explosive circuit it's certain that they will be amongst the attackers, the Jumbo-Visma rider included.
As is the case in the classics, Van Aert will most likely not try to rely on his sprint but instead ride an aggressive race in Glasgow. Having the presence of Jasper Philipsen could end up being key in unleashing a potential offensive which could see the race swing his way.
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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WE LOVE BRIDGES IN SCOTLAND 🏴 Firth of Forth looking magnificent this morning #GlasgowScotland2023
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