'I don't know what my limits are': Wout van Aert dreaming of more after first Monument win at Milan - San Remo
The Belgian follows up his Strade Bianche win last week with his first ever Monument victory
Wout van Aert says he doesn't yet know the limit of what he can achieve on the bike following his first Monument victory at Milan - San Remo 2020.
The Belgian beat Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) in a two-up sprint one week after winning Strade Bianche in Siena.
The 25-year-old says he kept believing he could catch Alaphilippe after the Frenchman made his move on the Poggio and that once he had caught up to him he knew he had a good chance of crossing the line first.
"Of course, I was far over my limit but last year it was quite the same to hold the wheel and be in the front group," Van Aert says of tackling the Poggio. "Bike racing is never easy and last week I had the same pain, it's always about suffering.
>>> Wout van Aert beats Julian Alaphilippe to win Milan-San Remo 2020
"Luckily there was nobody in my wheel, I just had to keep going and once I reached the top I wasn't losing ground anymore and Julian [Alaphilippe] had a good gap and was really strong but somehow I tried to believe he was on the limit and once we were at the top everything else was my advantage, the downhill of course was very technical, but when I came back on the downhill I knew I had a good chance."
He had already been hotly tipped coming into Milan - San Remo, and few will be surprised he followed up his Strade Bianche victory with another win. In Siena last week, the Belgian said we're seeing the best Van Aert we ever have, and he says he likes the fact he hasn't found his limit yet.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I think it's a super good thing that I dont know what my limits are. I'm 25 and it's really a pleasure to still discover what I'm able to do," Van Aert said. "My dream is to have a career with lots of different wins, I'm in a good way and today is a special day winning my first Monument.
"Last year I won my first stage in the Tour de France, and I hope to have won a variety of different things by the end of my career, but as a Belgian guy, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix are top of my list, and that's what I want to reach in the coming years."
"I'm climbing quite well and time trialling so everything outside of Grand Tours is in my capabilities, so we'll see and I'll enjoy tonight."
Van Aert is keen to put the 2019 Tour de France crash behind him for good now, waving away prods to wax lyrical about the comeback he's made over the past 12 months.
"Last week we had a big story about the comeback and blah blah blah, but I would like to look to the future. I've proven myself a few times now, it was a hard period, it's good to be back, I was already on a high level when the coronavirus hit, I worked hard this winter and I've already been back a few months now."
Now he's fulfilled his own personal ambitions at the races set aside for him as team leader, Van Aert will now turn to a domestique role for the team at the Tour de France, where Primož Roglič, Tom Dumoulin and Steven Kruijswijk look set to make a very good go of breaking Ineos' stranglehold over the French Grand Tour.
"It would be really strange if I said I didn't believe in [Jumbo-Visma winning the Tour de France]," Van Aert said. "And to be honest I do believe it, I saw in an altitude camp last week how the guys were working and today we heard on the radio that Primož [Roglič] won, I think yesterday he forgot to win.
"We go to the Tour with high ambitions and the goal is to try and win it. For me it's really special to go with these guys and be part of a team with such ambitions."
Before that will be the Dauphiné, where Van Aert says he'll be able to test his legs once more, even if there is little opportunity for personal glory given the parcours, and calibrate with the team ahead of the Tour.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
I can’t even remember the price of my latest bike — the trauma is too deep
Dream bikes are best left locked up in fantasy land, argues CW's columnist
By Michael Hutchinson Published
-
Buying a saddle online without a fit is a risky move — here's how to find the best perch for you
Getting your saddle right makes all the difference, we spoke to an expert to help guide you in the process
By Rob Kemp Published
-
Women's Milan-San Remo confirmed for 2025, route and distance unknown
UCI announces addition to Women's WorldTour calendar, meaning four of the five men's Monuments now have women's equivalents
By Adam Becket Published
-
Mathieu van der Poel not intimidated by Tadej Pogačar’s form ahead of Milan-San Remo clash
Dutchman starts his 2024 road season at Italian Monument on Saturday
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'wouldn’t be surprised' to see attacks before the Poggio at Milan-San Remo
British rider will lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers alongside Filippo Ganna
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'This was the day that I realised I'm quite good at racing' - Matej Mohorič remembers the ride that changed him
A stage winner in all three Grand Tours, as well as Milan-San Remo, Mohorič reflects back on his 2012 Junior World Championships victory
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Cian Uijtdebroeks turns up to Jumbo-Visma training camp in black kit
The 20-year-old, at the centre of Bora-Hansgrohe v Jumbo-Visma storm, headed out on a ride with his new teammates
By Adam Becket Published
-
Jumbo-Visma's Michel Hessman facing lengthy doping ban
German rider previously suspended by Jumbo-Visma after positive anti-doping test
By Cycling Weekly Published
-
Wout van Aert to target Giro d'Italia general classification in 2024
Belgian will target top five finish at Italian Grand Tour as leader of Jumbo-Visma, according to reports
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers and Jumbo-Visma among teams working on new pro racing league
According to Reuters, around five teams are in the early talks for a new competition
By Adam Becket Published