Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) says his Tour of Denmark success has given him the confidence to commit fully to an autumn programme built around three major targets.
The Belgian Gravel Championships in Grobbendonk on August 16 is his first objective. La Vuelta a España follows from August 22 to September 13, before the UCI Road World Championships take place in Montréal from September 20 to 27.
Van Aert described each race as an important opportunity in an interview with HLN after winning the first three stages and the overall classification at the five-stage Tour of Denmark.
“I want to go all in,” Van Aert said.
The result was a triumphant return to racing after an elbow injury suffered in a training crash became infected and forced him to miss the Tour de France. He now takes that promising form into the final part of the season with three clear targets.
The problem with his elbow began when he crashed on his time-trial bike after hitting a pothole during training at home. Van Aert subsequently abandoned the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on June 12, the day after winning a stage, and missed Visma-Lease a Bike’s altitude camp in Tignes. The team confirmed on June 17 that the inflamed wound and required recovery would prevent him from reaching the Tour in suitable condition.
Denmark restores Van Aert’s confidence
Van Aert hit the ground running in Denmark with a showing of superb attacking form bridging across to groups of favourites and winning bunch sprints against the pure sprinters in the race. He bridged to the front group before winning the opening stage around Holstebro, edged Jensen Plowright (Alpecin-Premier Tech) in a photo finish on stage two and then beat Lukaš Kubiš (Unibet Rose Rockets) on the uphill finish in Vejle.
Those victories marked the first time Van Aert had won three consecutive stages in one race. The overall title after five days gave him confidence in his late-season programme, although each objective still presents a different test.
“It might sound strange, but I would rather not have been standing here and ridden the Tour de France,” admitted Van Aert. “That wasn’t a fun period, but you always have to be ready to adjust your plan, and I am really looking forward to everything that is still coming up this autumn.”
The Belgian gravel title will be decided on the roads and tracks around Grobbendonk. Six days later, La Vuelta begins in Monaco with a 9.6km individual time trial. Its 3,275km route includes 21 stages before the finish in the beautiful Andalusian city of Granada.
Upon being asked whether the opening time trial in Monaco would be a target for him he replied: “Yes, definitely.” He added that he thinks the shorter test means that aero positioning is less important as he has struggled to train on the skis due to his elbow.
“The whole first week looks fun, by the way – we are going for stage wins. There are opportunities.”
Onto the worlds and it is a very different test with the absolute biggest names and rivals waiting for him, including Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech).
Montréal offers a 273.7km elite men’s road race with 3,803 metres of climbing. The final circuit includes the 2.3km Voie Camillien-Houde ascent at an average of 6.2%, alongside steeper sections on the Chemin de la Polytechnique.
“Tadej (Pogačar) and Remco (Evenepoel) are two different types than me,” Van Aert said. “It is a tough course that will always be on the limit for me. But I have finished second in Montreal in the past. If I am at my very best, I certainly have a chance there. I absolutely do not consider myself without a chance, and that is why I want to go for it”
His first scheduled autumn target is now the Belgian Gravel Championships on August 16.
Cover image credit: Gaetan Flamme
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