Wout van Aert opting out of the World Championships, wrapping up his season in September
In the world of cycling, the decision of a top contender to skip a major event is always noteworthy. This year, Wout van Aert, the Belgian cycling sensation, has chosen to forego the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda, opting instead to focus on the remaining races of his season.
Van Aert, who has had a successful 2021 season with wins at Gent-Wevelgem, Amstel Gold Race, and multiple stages in the Tour de France, also secured a silver medal in the individual time trial at the World Championships held in Flanders, Belgium [5]. However, the official start list for the Rwandan event has not been confirmed yet.
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, the recent Tour de France winner, is expected to defend his road race title in Rwanda. The elite men's race will cover a challenging 267.5km course with a total elevation gain of 5,475m [4].
Despite his decision to skip the Rwandan event, Van Aert has a packed schedule for the remainder of the year. He will compete at four more races: the Deutschland Tour, Bretagne Classic-Ouest de France, GP de Québec, GP de Montréal, and the Flemish one-day Super 8 Classic. Van Aert has also participated in two Grand Tours this season, the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France, and has won a stage in both [6].
Last year, Van Aert placed second in both the road race and the individual time trial at the Worlds in Imola, Italy [7]. His calendar for the last part of the season has been set with these important races, as he stated that it's crucial to set important goals for the final stretch of the season [1].
Van Aart's decision to skip the Rwandan World Championships is not unprecedented. In 2020, he also missed the event, placing second in both the road race and the individual time trial at the Worlds in Imola, Italy [7]. It's worth noting that the UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda are scheduled for 21-28 September, and Van Aert has stated that he will end his season in September [3].
Sources:
- Cycling Weekly
- Cycling News
- Cycling Weekly
- UCI
- Cycling Weekly
- Cycling News
- Cycling Weekly
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