Can Wout van Aert still find his best form in games? “Only if he takes a break this round”

The Tour de France is not yet here for Wout van Aert, who could not hide the fact that in the time trial he had not yet reached the top level after his fall in Dwars Door Vlaanderen. According to Bert De Backer, things could still go well for the Olympics, “although it is difficult to build fitness in a Grand Tour”.

Wout van Aert announced he would take part in the Tour’s time trial, but disappointment saw him finish 24th, almost two minutes behind winner Remco Evenepoel.

Will Van Aert be able to rectify this for the Olympics, where he will not only be in the time trial but also the road race leader?

“It’s hard to build up fitness in a Grand Tour,” says former rider Bert De Bakker. “He’ll gradually get better again, but he’ll have to rest in between. As much as is possible in the Tour.”

“The time trial will be a tough incentive that he will have to try to recover from. Although it will not be easy on Saturday.”

“The gist is that he has to go very deep in some stages, but also not at all in a few stages, where he is not riding for the team, but simply building up a reserve. And then you can improve.”

“On the other hand, if he has to sit on his gums every day, there will be little progress.”

We will know on July 27 (time trial) and/or August 3 (road trial) whether Van Aert chose the right approach in the end.