Tom Dumoulin Urges Wout van Aert to Show 'Real Courage' in the Classics

Netherlands - Ekhbary News Agency

Dumoulin Calls for Van Aert to Embrace 'Real Courage' in Classics Campaign

Tom Dumoulin, the celebrated 2017 Giro d'Italia champion, has issued a strong call to Belgian star Wout van Aert, urging him to emulate the aggressive and race-defining tactics of Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar. Speaking in his newly launched podcast, Dumoulin suggested that Van Aert needs to inject more 'real courage' into his approach for the upcoming Spring Classics season.

Dumoulin, who retired from professional cycling in 2022, co-hosts the podcast with fellow former pro Michael Boogerd for the Netherlands' national public service broadcaster, NOS. In the inaugural episode, discussions ranged across various season previews, but Dumoulin's pointed comments about Van Aert, his former teammate at Visma-Lease a Bike, captured significant attention.

"When I look at his racing style as an analyst, I notice that he’s often reacting. He responds to what’s happening in the race," Dumoulin observed. "But Van der Poel makes the race – he attacks, he drops a bomb 100 kilometres from the finish."

He elaborated on this strategic difference, stating, "More and more, that approach is proving to be a winning formula. Not just for Mathieu van der Poel, but also for Tadej Pogačar. In fact, we’re seeing that the riders who dare, who show real courage, are ultimately the ones who win races. Maybe it’s time for Wout van Aert to start doing that too."

The contrast is stark when examining the recent successes of Van der Poel and Pogačar. Pogačar has consistently dominated major Classics and World Championships, often through audacious long-range solo efforts. Similarly, Van der Poel has secured three consecutive Paris-Roubaix titles and the 2024 Tour of Flanders by launching decisive attacks from afar. These are precisely the Monuments that Van Aert targets most, yet he has yet to conquer them, while Van der Poel has achieved victory in each of them three times.

Looking at the broader Monument statistics further highlights the gap. Pogačar boasts an impressive tally of 10 Monument victories, and Van der Poel has accumulated eight. Van Aert, in contrast, currently has only one Monument win to his name – the 2020 Milan-San Remo.

Dumoulin expressed optimism regarding Van Aert's prospects in Paris-Roubaix, identifying it as the Monument best suited to his strengths. However, he acknowledged the formidable challenge Van Aert faces at the Tour of Flanders against strong contingents led by Van der Poel and Pogačar. "But in Roubaix, his opportunities are there," Dumoulin argued. "The problem is, if he waits for Mathieu or Pogačar to make the move, it could end up being another year of 'so close, yet so far'."

The former Dutch champion speculated that the immense pressure and expectation placed upon Van Aert, particularly in his home country of Belgium, might be contributing to a more conservative, reactive racing style, which he described as having a "paralysing" effect. "He’s never bad, but maybe that consistency pushes him into a more reactive style of racing," Dumoulin mused.

However, Dumoulin pointed to a specific instance where Van Aert demonstrated the very mindset he advocates: the final stage of last year's Tour de France. In a challenging finale featuring the steep, cobbled streets of Montmartre, Van Aert launched a powerful attack from a considerable distance. This audacious move successfully distanced Pogačar – a rare feat in recent years – allowing Van Aert to solo to victory on the iconic Champs-Elysées.

"When nobody expected it on Montmartre, he just exploded and rode away. In that moment, it was truly all or nothing; either I drop Pogačar now, or I end up with nothing," Dumoulin explained, highlighting the decisive nature of that performance. "If he can bring that same mindset to a race like Paris-Roubaix, I still think it’s possible." This sentiment underscores Dumoulin's belief in Van Aert's potential when he races with unbridled aggression and conviction.

Netherlands - Ekhbary News Agency