“We shouldn’t pretend otherwise" - Wout van Aert's honest World Championships without Pogacar admission ahead of Sunday showdown
CyclingSaturday, 26 September 2026 at 10:42
Wout van Aert is honest in his assessment of the World Championships without Tadej Pogacar, admitting that the race instantly crossed his mind when he heard about the world champion's crash.
UAE leader and reigning rainbow jersey Pogacar crashed while leading the Vuelta a Espana, ultimately ending his season after suffering a broken collarbone, broken vertebrae and concussion. His absence almost entirely changes the complexion of this weekend's race.
With Pogacar fancied to unleash a long-range attack similar to his 2024 and 2025 victories, his absence now opens the race to a host of favourites and outsiders alike. Wout van Aert fits somewhere in between favourite and outsider as teammate to frontrunner Remco Evenepoel.
“We shouldn’t pretend otherwise,” he said, reported by Het Nieuwsblad. “When I heard about his crash, I immediately thought about it.”
“Without him, my chances increase. Everyone’s chances increase. With Tadej, the large majority of riders would simply adapt their race around him.”
Wout van Aert ahead of the 2026 World Championships in Montreal
Van Aert sees big chance on Sunday
Van Aert knows the course, finishing second in the 2022 GP de Montreal after using the second half of the lap to keep in touch following the circuit's climb - which favours the lighter and mountain-loving riders.
“That second place obviously strengthened my belief that something is possible here on Sunday. Is that something new? Apart from races that end in a bunch sprint, I’m always racing against those lightweight guys.
“But I still think this is a different World Championship from Kigali last year or Sallanches next year. Those are really for climbers. This one isn’t. You can see that from the field as well.”
To say the Flemish rider is at least bullish is the best reading of the situation. While noting Mathieu van der Poel as a candidate for the win, he can't deny that all needs to go perfectly for him while Evenepoel, Paul Seixas and Isaac del Toro have a little more room to breath.
“Oh, I just told Renaat Schotte [Belgian journalist, Ed.] in an interview that I give myself eight percent. That’s just guesswork, of course. I’m not going to give myself a bigger chance than Mathieu.”
An alliance with Mathieu van der Poel?
“Obviously the chances of Seixas and Remco are bigger in principle. They can still correct a situation during the race, while for me things probably really have to fall into place. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t believe.”
Van Aert circles back to his classics foe van der Poel. With similar capabilities and hurdles to overcome in the race against the climbers, could the pair put aside their rivalry and work together in an attacking move?
“Us as allies? That would be nice,” he joked. "Obviously Mathieu will be watched by everyone, just like me.
"We’re also similar types. That long Camillien Houde climb can be right on the limit for both of us. But if we do find ourselves together, I know Mathieu always races to win. He won’t have come here to settle for a podium place. In that sense, we could indeed become allies.”
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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- well, he was going too fast - hence the coach being thrown out of the race. guess I'm not the only one with this opinion. but you do your research as you like to do and give us the full mr know nothing reportmij26-09-2026
- God forbid Quinn Simmons LOLmij26-09-2026
- one of the most eloquent riders is leaving the peloton. he is also amazing in the regular radio rtf podcast of the two former german gcn presenters richie (his cousin) and tobi.Ketterechts26-09-2026
- Wind could also be a factor, before they even reach the circuit.Hills3326-09-2026
- Well the Dutch chasing the Dutch was hilarious in the past.abstractengineer26-09-2026
- I’m glad he added that last sentence re MVDP coz it would have been stupid to ignore the possibility of him going with WVA or Remco if one attacks, that would put a lot of pressure to work together on PS & IDTJumpyjohn26-09-2026
- How technical is it? The Glasgow circuit was so technical it made chasing very difficult to organise and was an obvious advantage for an early attacker.Jumpyjohn26-09-2026
- And he was angry once he was leading and had to change bikes due to a flat having no idea how close or far the chase behind was. Not sure there’s steady correlation between his level of anger and performance, it seems to work both ways.Jumpyjohn26-09-2026
- Anything is possible. Most people are making their predictions on very selective assessment, looking only at something like elevation gain, one particular race, current performance, body weight or simply rider preference. Every argument has a counter.argument. Those who looked to the results of Montréal forgot to consider many had ridden Quebec 2 days before. The riders most climbing are least suited and experienced or performing in Classics. The rider least suited (MVDP, even though theoretically Wout should climb even less well) is the one who has shown he can destroy prejudice, not only did he finish just behind Tadej and Bardet at LBL (4200m) beating Pidcock but he won in Glasgow, in front of Tadej and Wout, easily, despite a crash and that had 3600m of elevation gain over a similar distance. But as you say, even MVDP has been caught out not knowing there were still riders ahead of him when sprinting for the line.Jumpyjohn26-09-2026
- I’d guess he’s had more than one, ever, although being at an Ineos in decline about 3 years I guess you can seriously ask that question. However, VAM (assuming it’s not a typo for VMA) assessment is not obligatory and can be done just as well through p/w. And then if you read his exact statement, maybe he just did it at 1500 or 2000m in the past and has now done a session at 2500m?Jumpyjohn25-09-2026
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