Tell that to Wout Van Aert!
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alex_cycles
Veteran
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Genuine question as don't know .... does WVA win sprints against the pure sprinters, or does he win sprints against those who've made it to the finish after the sprinters have been dropped?
I've always assumed WVA was one of those freaks of nature who can climb (but isn't the best), sprint ( but isn't the best), and push break aways where he excels.
alex_cycles
Veteran
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Wasn't it WVA who stopped Cav getting the final sprint on the final stage of the TdF two years ago?
I think he has been known to beat the top guys on occasion
alex_cycles
Veteran
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Andy you've got some competition. We're also going to have two more races in March because of the way the month went.
Ah, ok ... not been watching a lot of cycling the past couple of years so out of the loop slightly. Absolute monster!
Well he's won the green jersey in the TDF and beaten Cavendish and Jasper Philipsen (and all the other sprinters) in a sprint on the Champs Elysee for starters so I think the answer to your first question is yes
He also solo'd to victory on a mountain stage of the TDF that went up Mont Ventoux twice and finished on the summit, so yeah incredible all round ability
Sagan used to win the green jersey and I never thought of him as a pure sprinter either .. hence my question about WVA as I thought he might be similar to Sagan ... someone with a sprint, who can climb, but also gets himself into breaks. I guess he's more a sprinter than anything else but also with that ability to climb through the pain. He's definitely a rare breed for sure.
Does he win monuments/day races too or is he mostly at the tours?
I really should get cycling on my tv again
Wout can do it all pretty much, sprint, classics rider, TT and super domestique for his GC team mates.
Being a great all-rounder he sometimes just loses to a pure sprinter or climber.
Compared to VDP he is a more complete rider. VDP beats him on big occasions due to his explosive power-not always though
Being a great all-rounder he sometimes just loses to a pure sprinter or climber.
Compared to VDP he is a more complete rider. VDP beats him on big occasions due to his explosive power-not always though
alex_cycles
Veteran
- Location
- Oxfordshire
I think the only thing he probably isn't built for is GC. But he could probably do it if he remodelled. Very much doubt he wants to though. I think he's even said so.
Sagan used to win the green jersey and I never thought of him as a pure sprinter either .. hence my question about WVA as I thought he might be similar to Sagan ... someone with a sprint, who can climb, but also gets himself into breaks. I guess he's more a sprinter than anything else but also with that ability to climb through the pain. He's definitely a rare breed for sure.
Does he win monuments/day races too or is he mostly at the tours?
I really should get cycling on my tv again
Yeah he's won Milan San Remo and top 3 in all the other monuments except Lombardia. He's also won Strade Bianche and Amstel Gold amongst many others.
I guess you're right in that he's a sprinter along the lines of Sagan - not a pure sprinter but still capable of winning a group sprint amongst the best in the world on a given day. But obviously can do so much more as well. A bit like Sagan, as well as winning a lot he does come second a lot too!
Yes I'd like to thank my domestiques for all their work today 😂, We had a bit of a plan 😉
