"It's tough when everyone expects you to win wherever you start" - Wout van Aert sympathizes with Pogacar's hardship

Burnout can catch even to the very best. Last month, Tadej Pogacar openly talked about the strain the need to perform in all races has on his mentality. We can even look a bit further into things to see this as a possible cause of Slovenians decision to skip Vuelta altogether and take a full month out of competition. In Canada, he'll cross swords with Wout van Aert among others.

"It was still a bit of a shock for everyone," Van Aert tells Sporza a month and a half after the event. He adds: "Yes, burnout could happen to me too."

Rider's mentality can never feel too safe in the high-stress environment that is a cycling peloton. "We train a lot, and riders sometimes get too obsessed with training. Everyone wants more and more and better. You're stuck in that cycle, longing for your vacation in October, and then in December you start all over again," Pogacar said, before pressing the pause button.

The Belgian star can see where the Slovenian's words are coming from. "I understand what Pogacar is saying. Being a cyclist also means carrying a lot of expectations. I can understand how difficult it is to always have to perform," Van Aert says from Canada where the two will line up to GP Quebec and GP Montreal this week.

There is a lesson in Pogacar's words, according to Van Aert: "You shouldn't underestimate how tough it is when everyone expects you to win wherever you start."

Van Aert experienced a similar position in the earlier years of his career when the pressure was on him to win in spring, stages at Tour and be the big star of Visma next to Primoz Roglic and later Jonas Vingegaard. According to the Belgian, the position is not for everyone.

A few crashes later, but also thanks to his age-long rival Mathieu van der Poel, the expectations are not as sky-high as they used to be now which gives Van Aert more breathing space. "I'm no longer in that position. But how did I manage that a few years ago? I've returned to what I want. You really shouldn't let anyone talk you into anything. Outside expectations aren't the right motivation. I try to stay away from that."

Tour de France Femmes winner Pauline Ferrand-Prevot suggested staying away from social media as much as possible, as it is often toxic.

"It can be good advice," agrees her Belgian teammate. "On the other hand, you can use social media and not look for negative reactions. After my victory in Paris, I really enjoyed watching videos and photos of supporters I saw in Montmartre. I probably spent half a day on that. So no, it's certainly not all bad," Van Aert concludes.