Rik Vanwalleghem and Frederik Backelandt, our guests yesterday in De Tribune, you don’t have to learn anything about the history of cycling.
When they were asked to place Wout van Aert in a broader historical context, they arrived at a mix of Roger De Vlaeminck and Rik Van Looy.
“Roger De Vlaeminck could do everything,” says Rik Vanwalleghem. “The Tour, where it failed, was a bit of a stain on his career. That was in his head. It wasn’t his thing, but everything else was.”
“He was the only leader at Brooklyn and he preferred that,” adds Frederik Backelandt. “Wout van Aert does not shy away from that role either.”
“In Ghent he even laughed a little at the start of the Omloop. He saw how the rest did everything to pass on that hot potato, the role of favourite.”
“Van Aert eats that potato. It all slides off him, just like with De Vlaeminck at the time.”
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Frederik Backelandt also made the link with Rik Van Looy (“think of the connection Herentals, where Wout van Aert lives”). Are you unbeatable in spring with such nobility letters?
Backelandt: “I heard Patrick Lefevere say that he did not expect Van Aert to be so sharp already. He works very hard in training, but is also in shape very quickly.”
“And he also makes huge choices. It will peak on Saturday if he is not at the start of the Strade Bianche.”
Vanwalleghem: “It is a very good signal that he has fitted for the Cyclo-cross World Championships and now for the Strade.”
“You should be able to do that. There is a tendency to think that you can handle everything and take everything with you if it goes well.”
“In addition, Van Aert is only 27 years old. Only now are the fat years coming for a rider. There is a head on it and the legs are there.”
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