"The exception is Van Aert" - What makes Wout different to Pogacar and the other top pros?

In the era of marginal gains, even the rider’s position on their bike is of crucial importance. But what defines the perfect position, and how do riders and teams determine it?

Former pro Sep Vanmarcke shared his thoughts with Het Nieuwsblad: "One area where riders are searching for marginal gains is their cycling position. It would be interesting to compare a photo of Eddy Merckx with one of Tadej Pogacar today, both performing a similar effort on a road bike."

The 36-year-old Belgian, who won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2012, stepped down from his role as sports director at Israel-Premier Tech at the end of 2024. Reflecting on the evolution of rider positioning, he noted, "You’ll see that Merckx was much more stretched out and lower on the bike. That’s how it was back then, the saddle positioned far back with little so-called ‘drop,’ the vertical distance between the top of the handlebars and the saddle. This position drew nearly all the power from the upper legs and put a lot of strain on the lower back."

Vanmarcke highlighted how aerodynamics have reshaped riding styles, "There is much more focus on aerodynamics, which is clearly visible in how handlebars have developed over time. They are now much lower than before and have also become significantly narrower.

"At the beginning of my career, I rode with handlebars that were 44 centimetres wide. By the time I retired, we were down to 38 centimetres, and today, even 36 centimetres is no longer unusual."

He also pointed out the shift in saddle positioning, "The saddle is also positioned much further forward than it used to be. When I started, seat posts would naturally be angled backward, whereas now they are completely straight. The setback (the horizontal distance between the saddle’s tip and the bottom bracket) is much smaller than before. This makes the riding position more aerodynamic but also less comfortable."

Discussing Tadej Pogacar’s approach, Vanmarcke observed, "Pogacar pays extreme attention to his hip angle. That’s why he even uses short 165-millimeter cranks. The longer the cranks, the higher the foot rises during the pedal stroke, which pushes the upper legs more toward the torso. What stands out to me is that Pogačar rides in a fairly upright position."

What about Wout van Aert? Vanmarcke shared an interesting insight, "One observation I made as a pro: to what extent do riders actually maintain their ideal, millimeter-perfect position under full effort? I see many riders sliding forward, right to the tip of their saddle. The exception is Van Aert, who always uses the entire seating surface."

Vanmarcke concluded with his personal experience of trying new aerodynamic innovations: "I’ve tried all the aerodynamic innovations on the road, including shorter cranks. My feeling is that they mainly benefit you on climbs or during long solo attacks.

"But I was never that kind of rider. It's important to be aware of all the latest advancements, but even more important is that your position on the bike feels right. Otherwise, you have a problem."