“We have made the mistake before of wanting it too badly for Wout" - Visma learn from old mistakes in van Aert Vuelta masterclass
CyclingSaturday, 05 September 2026 at 10:20
Visma | Lease a Bike learned from their mistakes of old to pull off a Vuelta a Espana masterclass on Friday as Wout van Aert took a sensational stage victory. With Visma enjoying a dominant race so far, Matthew Brennan and Van Aert were part of the winning breakaway of the day.
With their two fast men in the break, alongside Bruno Armirail, 43 riders were initially up the road before the attackers split, taking Brennan with them as van Aert missed the split. However, Visma didn't panic as the Belgian eventually bridged across to the front of the race.
With ten kilometers to go, Brennan and Van Aert found themselves part of a nine-rider breakaway as they assessed their options to put their best foot forward.
Visma sports director Maarten Wynants admitted that the race situation led to an ideal scenario with a numerical advantage in a reduced group following van Aert's move.
Wout van Aert sprints to victory
Visma create ideal situation
“If you could write the ideal scenario in advance, it would look very similar to this,” Wynants told Sporza.
“It would also have been a good situation if Matthew had stayed out front. We wanted to create a numerical advantage and we were not sure it would work with Matthew because he had indicated that he was not feeling 100 percent. Then Wout was able to bridge across with the stronger climbers.”
However, numerical advantage wouldn't signal certain victory, and Visma have all too painful memories of not getting over the line with both numerical advantage and their full focus on Van Aert.
“We had the advantage in numbers almost all the time. That was really nice to see.
“We have made the mistake before of wanting it too badly for Wout and immediately taking control of the race. Sometimes we learn from our mistakes too.”
Van Aert makes move inside final 4 kilometers
With just under 4 kilometers to go, the Belgian made his move and attacked. Only Valentin Paret-Peintre was able to follow and then launched his sprint with 300 meters to go as Van Aert rounded the Frenchman to surge to victory.
For Visma, having both Van Aert and Brennan in-form has offered a 'synergy', helping them to multiple stage wins at the race.
“He has found a very high level. He was extremely motivated after missing the Tour. When Wout is fit and fully focused on his preparation, this is what you can get.
“There is a real synergy between them. They understand each other and they are prepared to give each other opportunities. When that happens, you can create something special.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- Can't see nothing wrong with that
leedorney05-09-2026 - It’s totally obvious it’s not about collecting money, why are people even discussing that? At its base it’s extremely simple, any group of people need guidelines to function or each will do as he thinks best. All groups have rights and responsibility towards others, everything is taking place in the public sphere, neither the riders/organisers/UCI own the infrastructure so they have to respect and use it according to the given guidelines. Let’s start with a really easy one, litter. What happens if you let riders throw everything away (without e.g. electronic tags to find it back) along a 200km stretch of road?Jumpyjohn05-09-2026
- So are you implying if nobody was checking or fining riders, they would do a better job of security and safety left to sort it out by themselves? They’d still be riding around without helmets, minus a few that would have died in crashes. Yes, more can and has to be done, no it will never be perfect, just like you cannot make traffic function perfectly but the stricter and more seriously you take it, the safer it gets. In countries with a very strict zero tolerance to driving with alcohol or drugs, you immediately notice how the public adapts, similarly in countries with a heavy fine for speeding (% of income). Without the strictness, more people go towards pushing limits or move towards copying those that do, it’s in our nature.Jumpyjohn05-09-2026
- Huh? You come out with that just after the Maeve Plouffe incident???? No better than most places. You also obviously didn’t get why I used examples of things you’re not going to be able to tackle but CAN happen anyway. Terrorists also get past police often enough when they’re determined.Jumpyjohn05-09-2026
- As was posted here several times in the past, bigger budget and ressources allotted to security by making teams and riders co-responsible for it (if they don’t agree, want to participate they know the potential consequences). Teams and riders have enough budget/staff/friends/fans to provide for what is needed to man (informed persons, not people guessing the last rider must have passed) more crossings to prevent drivers doing as they think best. Nobody has a problem paying for back up cars, service cars, driving around vips, making publicity for spectators. Apart from the Tour and some really big races, marshalling is almost totally dependent on (usually unpaid) volunteers of dubious experience. Not surprising considering the responsibility and risk and complete lack or recognition or reward. If you would « outsource » recruitement to smart outfits and accept to reward people nicely somehow, I’m sure you would be inundated with requests like for the Olympics. Get in touch with the public, schools, cycling clubs, associations, charities and make it fun. Don’t force e.g. some old lady without a phone to stand for hours in a yellow warning vest but get a bunch of people to have fun/picnic and occupy the space, then reward them with a meal/vip access/autograph signings/ meetings with riders, whatever, brainstorm. Designate and design crossings as spectator hot spots for them to gather instead of everywhere else along the course. They’re there to see the race, they can be useful and enjoy it simultaneously, and use their parked cars to help barricade access. Have a catering unit ahead in the caravan that distributes free sandwiches and drinks to crossings only (a free beer (use a sponsor if needed) will move mountains). It doesn’t take much more than willingness and organisation but you have to be smart enough to sell it. The UCI didn’t manage to « sell » compulsory helmets to riders in the 90s, the dumb f…ks went on strike to resist and suddenly 15y later it passed like a parcel in the post, today NOBODY even discusses the issue anymore, on the contrary, the helmet has become cult/design/hi-tech/paraphernalia/crucial (also to performance). People are stubbornly stuck in following bad old logic (and ever more, the wrong new proposals to move away from past inefficiency). In the world of cycling, apart from maybe for ASO (and even for them, the workload is huge), race organisation is not easy money.Jumpyjohn05-09-2026
- ""I was fully on his wheel, I did two short turns at the front. I believed I could win the sprint, you always have to believe, but it's Wout van Aert, you can't beat him in a sprint," he concluded." WTF...nice contradiction in your statement VPP! Why you even took a pull was totally baffling!frieders305-09-2026
- 4 stage wins after 13 stages. Really a terrible performance
Rafionain-Glas04-09-2026 - So what is the point of the fines if it is not worth collect the money? It doesn't effect the rider. The teams pay the fine. The points deduction thing is more effective but also a bit harsh on a rider and team that has worked hard to get those points.1stpastthepost04-09-2026
- In the UK the police doa great rolling road closure. Thats not a set route though like a tt. In this case in germany its obvious that road junction was missed and not down to teenagers playing up or drunk driving as both cars/van stopped right away1stpastthepost04-09-2026
- Of course the uci can't account for all eventualties. So jj you'r saying sh.t happens and that's it?1stpastthepost04-09-2026
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