Having declared that he had suffered last year for targeting too many races, Wout van Aert (JumboVisma) showed up at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad last Saturday (26 February) with a new focus and duly delivered.
The Belgian champion attacked from a group of favourites on the Bosberg climb and held on for the remaining 13 kilometres for an impressive victory. It left few in any doubt that ‘WVA’ will continue to be a force to be reckoned with this season. The women’s race was won by Annemiek van Vleuten (see separate story).
Van Aert dedicated his victory to the people of Ukraine, whose country continued to be under attack by Russia and whose plight is galvanising the sporting world in protest. “What’s happening in Ukraine, it’s hard to understand that this is still possible in current times,” he said. “I really pray and hope we find some common sense again soon. In these times, sport is just not important. I really want to support the people there.”
Van Aert and his Jumbo-Visma team had looked dangerous and purposeful throughout much of the race, and van Aert’s Belgian team-mate Teisj Benoot put in a sterling supporting performance, at one point attacking into Geraardsbergen and leading over the Muur-Kapelmuur climb before being caught.
Asked how it felt to attack alone on the Bosberg, van Aert simply replied: “Awful.” He added: “It’s a suicide mission because your legs have already exploded before you touch the first cobblestone. It’s the sort of climb that doesn’t look hard in training – before you know it you’re at the top. But in the finale of a race, it’s just endless.”
ãã®èšäºã¯ CYCLING WEEKLY ã® March 03, 2022 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ CYCLING WEEKLY ã® March 03, 2022 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
CLASSIC BIKE COLNAGO SUPER
A trailblazing bike immortalised by Merckx and Saronni
"Strava activities are the only way I know some of my friends are still alive"
...or that Bernard is doing his weekly shop
AN EXPERT'S TAKE ON... SADDLE SELECTION
Crucial advice to guide your next purchase
JUST A NUMB#R?
Approaching a landmark birthday, Charlie Graham-Dixon explores how ageing affects cycling performance and what can be done to stay ahead of the curve
RURAL PERIL
More UK cyclists are killed on rural lanes than on busy city streets. Rob Kemp investigates why and what can be done to keep us safe while riding in the countryside
A BLESSED RIDE THROUGH THE FOREST OF BOWLAND
Forgoing cloak, cassock and cross, Trevor Ward goes in search of the holy roads that helped make a Tour winner
Dame Sarah Storey claims road and 19th gold double
More success for Team GB's Paralympians in Paris, but Storey slams women's time trial course
RogliÄ matches Vuelta win record
Slovenian takes fourth Tour of Spain title after hunting down O'Connor's lead, writes Adam Becket
Williams crowned Tour of Britain champion
Welshman leads home resurgence at the stage race to crown an Israel-Premier Tech clean sweep, reports Tom Davidson in Felixstowe
CLASSIC BIKE CLAUD BUTLER OLYMPIC ROAD
Iconic British brand's Holdsworth-era road bike