Wout van Aert Will Likely Skip the 2024 Tour de France
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Wout van Aert, 29, has proven over and over again that his range is incredible. He can race cyclocross, gravel, spring classics, and Grand Tours, all at the top level. And 2024 looks to be no different for the Jumbo-Visma superstar.
Van Aert will look to the spring classics to prepare for his debut in the Giro d’Italia in May. While van Aert has ridden the Tour de France five times, and has won nine Tour de France stages in his career, this will be the first time he has been part of another Grand Tour. According to Cycling News, the 2024 Giro route includes 20 percent less climbing than in recent years, “with the two time trial stages giving Van Aert a chance to gain time on key rivals.”
This year, van Aert was superhuman in the Tour de France, working tirelessly to help Jonas Vingegaard get in position to win. He then left the Tour early, ahead of stage 18, to be with his wife as she gave birth to their second child.
Next year van Aert will get his legs Giro-ready by racing the spring classics in March and April. He’s still yet to win the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. The Giro runs from May 4-26, and while plans aren’t set in stone, van Aert has given several indications that he’s ready to take on the race across Italy.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that, “The only thing missing is an official announcement from the team that will be made at their get together in December.” Jumbo-Visma will confirm rosters and rider goals on December 22.
With Vingegaard looking to lead the Tour, and Sepp Kuss targeting La Vuelta again, van Aert should have the Giro all to himself in terms of the GC. The goal will almost certainly be a top-five finish.
Then, it’s likely that van Aert will forgo the Tour de France in order to race in the Paris Olympics. There he will ride the time trial (July 27) and road race (August 4). The rest of the Belgian’s schedule will include preparations for the Road World Championships in Switzerland at the end of September.
It will certainly be an exciting and non-stop year for one of the biggest stars in the men’s WorldTour peloton.
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