"It will be a completely different preparation for the Games than he did in 2021" - Could racing Giro d'Italia put Wout van Aert in prime position for Olympic Gold
Cycling
If all the rumours and speculation are to be revealed, Wout van Aert will have a much different calendar in 2024 compared to recent years. Racing the Giro d'Italia instead of the Tour de France could leave the Belgian in prime position for Olympic Gold believes Sven Vanthourenhout.
“The Giro has not yet been officially determined, but I personally think it would not suit him badly," the Belgian national coach discusses in conversation with Wielerflits, casting an eye towards next summer's Paris Olympic Games. "It will be a completely different preparation for the Games than he did in 2021, but no less successful. Wout also knows what he has to do and is very motivated.”
Although the actual route of the men's road race isn't fully clear as of yet. Vanthourenhout believes one thing for certain is that the race will not finish in a sprint finale.
“A championship on a city circuit always provides a completely different experience than any other race or classic that exists. In terms of experience, it will be a bit like in Glasgow, but every race or course has its own facets," analyses the Belgian national coach. "It will always be different than the last time, but certainly difficult. I don't expect a bunch sprint, at most one from a thinned out group.”
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- A bit much to suggest that Pogacar is better than MvdP on most terrains. The only terrain Pogacar is clearly better is long climbs, on any other terrain they are pretty even except flat cobbles and short and steep climbs (max a few 100 mtrs) where MvdP is clearly better than Pogacar.Velovibes21-12-2024
- The likelihood of RE improving enough at this point to outclass TP or JV is less than zero.verve82521-12-2024
- That’s the most stupid thing I’ve read for a long time, did you not go to school and learn even the most basic physics? Aero depends on one thing only, drag, drag depends speed and the relationship is squared and apart from maybe at zero or the speed of sound or due to side winds that relationship is valid at all speeds, it dies not “suddenly” start at a magic number. Very simply, the faster you go the more the effect becomes important. If you think 25km/h is needed to have noticeable effects you’re delusional, athletic WR are cancelled as soon as winds top 2m/s that’s 7.2km/h, why because the assistance is already too important at that speed and the times prove it. You don’t even consider wind which can significantly increase the effective speed for aerodynamics and you underestimate speed of climbs, 6% is ridden more at 30 than 25km/h, a speed at which early generation high rims were considered to have more advantages than disadvantages. And finally, as in normal races you can’t just switch bikes according to terrain, it’s pretty pointless to discuss climbs as a separate situation, the aero will have justified itself plenty during the rest of the ride.Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- If you look at how much TP progressed in that 1 1/2 years you can no longer say that’s nothing. If Remco improves as much he’s a challenger!Mistermaumau21-12-2024
- Froome wishing to ride the Vuelta...he won't even be selected for the team!frieders320-12-2024
- Keep telling yourself that Remco but you not only have Tadeg to beat but Jonas!frieders320-12-2024
- Seems farfetched - I agree. Mas has beaten him once. Giro d'Emillia I think - 2022mobk20-12-2024
- Barring injuries, by the time Pogacar's dominance fads there will be lots of new young talent. Pogacar is about 1 1/2 years older than Remco. That's nothing.Sweep20-12-2024
- I actually don’t find that too impressive. In my later forties I did similar figures for a 3.5% gradient as a total nobody with no wind assistance. Am sure there’s margin for improvement there, especially looking at all the names on that list.Mistermaumau20-12-2024
- Jonas', was 6 years agospock12320-12-2024