Wout Van Aert, a 30-year-old first-timer in the Giro d’Italia, was simply brilliant on stage nine of cycling’s most-demanding grand tour. He did it all, displaying incredible cycling and racing savviness to claim victory. Riding for the Dutch team Visma-Lease a Bike, Van Aert was able to use his Strade Bianche experience to good effect. He really fooled all of his competitors, including Isaac del Toro. The stage saw some nail-biting excitement! Van Aert out kicked Del Toro in the last 400 meters on the dusty, narrow streets of Siena.
The race started in an incredibly competitive fashion. Van Aert’s bid for success came when he joined a chasing group that aggressively pursued a long-standing original break. His tactical choices during the race would end up being key. None more than when he dropped Egan Bernal in the final 15 kilometers. That win proved to be a career-defining moment for Van Aert, showcasing his grit, resolve and versatility on the cycling circuit.
Leveraging Experience
Either way, Van Aert’s success is deeply deserved. After finishing third in the 2018 and 2019 editions of the Strade Bianche, he took the top step himself in 2020. His experience provided him with critical perception into the topography and difficulties of Siena. These insights all contributed to helping Bill craft his strategy during the Giro stage.
In his post-race comments, Van Aert on the other hand put the focus on experience.
“And because I know the final pretty well I needed to do the move in the last three corners. I almost missed the last one but the experience of Strade Bianche helped me win today.” – Wout Van Aert
He used that information to better position himself to beat Del Toro and win his race. He played the racial dynamics with political genius and carried out his plan to perfection. This showed not only his physical strength, but more importantly, his quick mental reflexes.
A Moment of Significance
And that makes the win personal for Van Aert, who after winning took time to process his evolution into a cyclist. He explained how Siena is connected with the roots of his career, hence this sacred win was even more special.
“It had to be here I believe, because this place is where my road career started back in 2018.” – Wout Van Aert
This connection to Siena adds an emotional layer to his triumph, highlighting how far he has come since those early days in competitive cycling.
The Fight for Victory
The last few minutes of the race were just spectacular. Van Aert was certainly tested by Del Toro and proved he has the will to fight and claw to rattle the cage.
“I had to fight all the way to the top through the streets of Siena,” – Wout Van Aert
His tactical passing in the final straight showed off his incredible racing IQ. Even as Van Aert wobbled just a bit on that last curve, he controlled his bike to take the win.
He concluded by expressing the significance of this achievement:
“This victory means a lot to me, I almost cannot explain it.” – Wout Van Aert
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