A first workout… a week ago
As Sporza points out, the Antwerp native only did his first cyclo-cross training last Friday… just a week before his first race.
“It’s always a good time to check that the equipment is up to par”explained to the Dutch-speaking media his training companion and friend Daan Soete, who recently became Belgian sand racing champion, “I saw that Wout had to get back to his habits in the turns, the sand or with less inflated tires. I noticed that it wasn’t as easy as after a few races.
“Back on track”: Wout van Aert shares good news (PHOTO)
But Soete remains confident for his friend van Aert: “I felt that after half an hour his experience resurfaced. He will quickly regain confidence on the bike.
After his heavy fall in the Vuelta, van Aert nevertheless did not reach his best form in the plowed sectors, “but the basis is there”slips Soete who believes that “Wout directly reaches a certain level after a few weeks of training.”
“War wound”
If the Belgian resumes the cyclo-cross season so late, it would be due to his delay in running work, which he had to put aside for a long time following his serious knee injury suffered during the Vuelta. “A war wound”indicates his training companion, “I have rarely seen someone so badly injured without a fracture.
But Soete is adamant that van Aert will have no problem turning up. “He didn’t complain about a possible problem at this level, at least to me. Above all, I think he worked in preparation for the course. But from what I see on Strava, he doesn’t seem to be in too much pain while running. I’m sure he won’t be left behind in the race.
“It’s still under discussion”: will Wout van Aert finally participate in the Cyclo-cross Worlds?
To the point of being able to compete directly with Mathieu van der Poel, author of three out of three this Thursday in Gavere? Daan Soete is more cautious and believes that the Loenhout cross-country should not be reduced to a duel between the Dutchman and his friend van Aert: “Wout will have to rediscover his feelings in the plowed fields. Mathieu is at another level and did not have to undergo a long revalidation. Wout needs to focus on himself and he is experienced enough for that. But with the public who will be present, he will not want to finish in an anonymous 15th place and he will give the best of himself.
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