Cyclist Wout van Aert to forego World Championships, concluding season in September instead
Wout van Aert, the Belgian cycling sensation, has announced a revised racing schedule for the remainder of 2023. The seasoned rider, who has participated in 56 days of road racing this season, including two Grand Tours in the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, will end his season in September after five races [1][3].
Van Aert's upcoming races include the Deutschland Tour (20-24 August), Bretagne Classic-Ouest de France (31 August), GP de Québec (12 September), GP de Montréal (14 September), and the Super 8 Classic (20 September) [2].
The decision to skip the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda and the European Championships was made to prevent overexertion. Van Aert emphasised the importance of setting important goals for the season's final part but also highlighted the necessity of maintaining a balanced workload and physical condition, following a demanding year [1][4].
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, the recent Tour de France winner, is expected to defend his road race title at the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda. Last year, van Aert placed second in the road race and individual time trial at the Worlds in Imola, Italy, and was second in the individual time trial at the Worlds in his native Belgium in 2021 [5][6].
In a surprising turn of events, van Aert missed the UCI Road World Championships in 2021 due to a "serious" knee injury. Despite this setback, he has proven his resilience by winning a stage in both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France this season [7].
Van Aert's decision to skip the World Championships is not a sign of complacency. Instead, it reflects his strategic approach to manage his workload and physical condition after a packed racing calendar and intense efforts such as his Tour de France stage win earlier in the season [1][4]. The official start list for the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda has not been confirmed yet.
Meanwhile, van Aert's cyclo-cross prowess remains undiminished. He recently secured second place at the cyclo-cross World Championships, further cementing his place among the elite cyclists of the world [8].
[1] Wout van Aert to end season in September [2] Wout van Aert announces revised racing schedule [3] Wout van Aert targets Super 8 Classic as season finale [4] Wout van Aert prioritizes balance over exhaustion [5] Wout van Aert's World Championships history [6] Wout van Aert's 2020 World Championships results [7] Wout van Aert wins Tour de France stage [8] Wout van Aert finishes second at cyclo-cross World Championships
- Wout van Aert, despite his impressive performance in road racing, has decided to skip the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda to avoid overexertion and maintain a balanced workload.
- Apart from road racing, Van Aert's cyclo-cross skills have remained outstanding, as he recently secured second place at the cyclo-cross World Championships.
