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For the primary time in his profession, Wout van Aert appears set to experience a Grand Tour aside from the Tour de France, with the Jumbo-Visma man confirming to Colombian media that his major goal for 2024 would be the Giro d’Italia.
Rumours had gathered for months that the Belgian would goal the season’s first Grand Tour, with some stories even suggesting that Van Aert might goal the GC slightly than simply trying to find phases, as has been his modus operandi since becoming a member of the Dutch group in 2019.
Van Aert is presently in Colombia to experience the Giro del Rigo, organised by fellow skilled Rigoberto Urán (EF Training-EasyPost), together with the likes of Sergio Higuita (Bora-Hansgrohe), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) and Óscar Sevilla (Group Medellín – EPM). It’s a journey that has seen Van Aert all smiles over the previous week, and his beneficiant temper supplied the definitive phrase over his calendar for subsequent yr to Colombian TV channel RCN – as reported by Mundo Ciclístico.
“Primarily the Giro d’Italia,” replied Van Aert when requested what his major objective was for 2024. He additional expanded that he likes Italy for its “ambiance, gastronomy and the heat and expressiveness of its individuals.”
Van Aert has by no means ridden the Giro d’Italia, however has lined up at Tirreno-Adriatico on two events and naturally, received each Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo in 2020. His participation on the Giro d’Italia subsequent yr will doubtless be within the position of group chief, whether or not he goes for GC or targets stage wins. That’s as a result of Jumbo-Visma are set to line up on the race and not using a earlier Grand Tour winner.
Might Wout van Aert goal GC on the Giro d’Italia?
Sepp Kuss dominated out driving the Giro d’Italia when chatting with GCN on the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium, while reigning Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard has proven little ambition to stray from his regular construct to his major objective in July. With defending Giro champion Primož Roglič leaving the group for Bora-Hansgrohe over the winter, this leaves Jumbo-Visma with a certain quantity of flexibility for the primary Grand Tour of the season.
Learn extra: Sepp Kuss rules out starting Giro d’Italia in 2024
Experiences had advised that the Dutch group had already pencilled of their lineup for Italy – specifically Van Aert, Attila Valter, Thomas Gloag, Matteo Jorgenson, Ben Tulett, Johannes Staune-Mittet and Per Strand Hagenes – nevertheless, these claims have been rapidly dismissed when GCN approached sports activities director Merijn Zeeman for remark.
Learn extra: ‘I don’t know who is making this up’ – Jumbo-Visma dismiss Giro d’Italia line-up reports
Nevertheless, Van Aert’s declaration in Colombia no less than confirms one member of their beginning eight for the Giro, and given his stature within the group behind Kuss and Vingegaard, the Belgian will certainly get to dictate his personal phrases for management in Italy.
As was revealed final month, the Giro route will include 68.2km of time trialling, together with a considerably neutered ultimate week of climbing, each traits that can swimsuit Van Aert as a brilliant time triallist with the power to prosper over lengthy – however not steep – climbs.
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Time will inform whether or not or not he does go into the race with ambitions of ending inside the highest 5, however with Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers) probably the one former Grand Tour winner set to line up at the beginning in Turin, there is no such thing as a motive for Van Aert to worry spreading his wings.
Eddy Merckx needs to be a supply of pleasure, not strain, insists Van Aert
Second place on the 2021 Tirreno-Adriatico had Belgian tongues wagging on the prospect of Van Aert turning into the newest Grand Tour winner from their nation – with solely Johan De Muynck (1978 Giro d’Italia) and Remco Evenepoel (2022 Vuelta a España) successful a three-week race for the nation since Eddy Merckx’s final Grand Tour win in 1974.
However Van Aert was fast to bat away the thought of strain falling on Belgian shoulders because of Merckx’s almighty legacy.
“I do not assume it must be a motive for strain,” he informed RCN. “Relatively, I believe it’s a motive for admiration and pleasure, however it could be a mistake to need to evaluate your self with him as a result of it’s a actual reference not just for biking in Belgium however on the planet with an unattainable monitor report.”
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