Jumbo-Visma DS comments on Wout van Aert controversy: "Belgium should pay more attention to its stars"
Cycling
Despite a very strong performance on Sunday's Gent-Wevelgem, criticism has rained on Wout van Aert. Several Belgian analysts believe van Aert will regret the option of gifting the victory to Christophe Laporte who attacked alongside him. Jumbo-Visma have commented on the situation.
The likes of Eddy Merckx, Johan Museeuw and Tom Boonen were all critical. Their opinions were due to the relevancy they have in Belgian media, who analyzed all details from the race. “Everyone has the right to give their opinion about this, but maybe it is better that some people try to understand why we do things the way we do in our team instead of always giving their opinion," Jumbo-Visma Merijn Zeeman told Eurosport France.
As has happened with other riders, the nation of dozens of cycling legends frequently sees it's riders under immense pressure. “I think Belgium should pay more attention to its stars and athletes in general," Zeeman hit back. "It's a bit strange the way they treat, not only Wout but also the national football team, or other very good riders. Maybe it would be better to learn from their success."
Van Aert, despite being one of cycling's most successful riders in modern cycling, receives frequent criticism. “Remco Evenepoel also has a lot of critics in Belgium, and I think he is more respected outside Belgium. They should ask themselves how they live with their superstars in sport. They don't do it in the best way." After winning the E3 Saxo Classic and sparking the winning move on Gent-Wevelgem, he will be one of the main favourites for the Tour of Flanders.
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- He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
- Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
- That is a very lazy way of putting it but so far on this website it seems like everyone is happy to look at everything lazily, even things that annoy them intensely. All they want to do is state their feeling and position but ask most to analyse a problem or come up with solutions or improvements and you’re stunned by silence. Nobody even really knows how this all happens. It’s very simple and quick to just say the UCI did it but I bet you they didn’t, I bet you not more than 2 people were involved, more likely just 1. The UCI may be ultimately responsible but it is not their decision, this is about hierarchy, power and delegation. The fact that protest is possible also means it isn’t over and that MORE people could get involved for a thorough review which could throw up anything. It is highly likely it was a sole commissar who decided and has that power in a first round. Therein might lie the problem the UCI has to consider, is it acceptable to give so much authority to one single person when it is quite possible for them to have a natural bias or be too easily susceptible to imposed bias. Who is to say an individual in this position isn’t susceptible to collaboration with outside players with interests in the results, nations, families, teams, betting companies, etc. On the one hand we have sports where these problems have been worked on way more to reduce such problems, on the other hand we have sports with far stricter and more draconian rules not even concerning safety or obstruction that nobody really questions like false starts or stepping out of lane or zones in athletics. If cycling hastowork on itself, it would be good if protagonists (all kinds) would start doing a little more than just moaning over outcomes.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Yes, so why not make comments less pointless?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- What a race! I didn't expect Vanthourenhout to collapse like that, and Wyseure did take the fight to Nys, but there was no doubt at the end. I also wonder what Aubin Sparfel would be capable of were he to race in the elites now. In the U23 ranks he is making good work of Giel Lejeune, who himself is among the better riders in the elites, and a top 10 contender in the big races (3rd at Kleebergcross, 8th at Berencross and 5th at Heerderstrand). In the French Cup, Sparfel is significantly better than Romain Debord (8th at Koppenbergcross and 10th at the Euros) and Rémi Lelandais (12th at Koppenbergcross and 19th at the Euros).
Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - There really was nothing in it. Schreiber was so much faster, and Brand was fighting to stay in the wheel in the sprint. Schreiber did move a bit, but to say she closed the door doesn't make sense because Brand couldn't enter it anyway, abd she wasn't impeded.Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026
- He should have been allowed to go to Movistar. Right now both arent a good fit for each other and are just wasting each other's time and effortabstractengineer08-11-2026
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