Wout van Aert refuses any idea of Giro d'Italia GC run: "It's never been a project under discussion and I don't like it at all"
Cycling
Wout van Aert will race the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France this year, and after the Giro's route reveal it was argued on social media that he could aim for the GC at the Giro, even if just as a test. The question was thrown to the classics specialist at the media day but got a very clear answer.
"At the Giro I certainly won't aim for a classification, it's never been a project under discussion and I don't like it at all," the Belgian confirmed with Het Laatste Nieuws. "Simon Yates will be the classification rider of the team at the Giro. Together with Olav Kooij I aim to win the stages and if I look at the route, there are opportunities for us almost every day".
Van Aert has struggled to get the big wins in recent years but his quality remains the same, and he is one of the most versatile riders in the sport's history - besides his feats in cyclocross. He is a strong sprinter, a brilliant time-trialist, may have the chance to win the race's gravel stage, and has shown in the past multiple times his climbing ability even amongst the best. But neither his dream or ambition lies in a possible GC hunt.
As in previous years, he will combine his own ambitions with some support work, as will also be the case at the Tour de France. "I was happy when I saw the Giro route. At the Tour I have the free role of aiming for a stage win and supporting Jonas Vingegaard. A two-pronged strategy like in previous years, but I am certainly not aiming for the green jersey”.
Last year he suffered two large crashes, and the latter took him out of the World Championships where he would've been a contender for victory in Zurich. In Rwanda he would likely have a lower chance of triumph, but a peak form van Aert can certainly aim for the rainbow jersey. But his decision will only come in the months leading up to the race.
“The World Championships in Rwanda are on my mind, but it seems logical that I will see what is left in the tank after the Tour," he explains. "At that time I will have to be honest with myself, because it is a difficult route, even if the current profiles and maps of the route are correct, and in altitude. A route that of the World Championships that suits me, but only if I am 100 percent prepared. If in August I feel that such preparation is not possible, there may not be much point in going. That decision has yet to be made.”
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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