“The three went away, and Brabantse Pijl déjà vu flashed in all of our minds. Instead of Trentin, it was Schachmann today who had to play the third—sorry, fifth and sixth—wheel for a grudge match between the cyclocross rivals.”
Tag Archives: Wout Van Aert
2021 RVV: The New Alpha
“It was there that Mathieu Van Der Poel put in attack and the only one who could match the ferocity was Elegant-Quickstep’s Champion of Denmark Casper Asgreen, the E3 winner—the Flanders dress rehearsal nine days ago.”
Eulogy for the Supertuck
“In the decades to come, the new fans of cycling studying up on their cycling history and lore will come across articles and clips of Chris Froome’s 2016 Peyresourde descent…and it will seem as foreign and ancient as the cyclists with no helmets, the cyclists smoking or drinking midrace, and the cyclists with the spare tire slung across their chest. “
2021 G-W: The Sprinters Show Off Their Classics Chops (Written)
“Ah! Truly, it was just another day in what is becoming a special era of cycling…Yes, another novel round, another day of unexpected sights to report, another proof that the cycling-world is upside down, and O! how I surely speak for all when I say: we are absolutely loving and soaking up every moment of this new un-understandable era. “
2021 E3: The Wolfpack’s Ronde Dress Rehearsal (Written)
“Yes, at this point the musical numbers should be prepared, all the stage blocking done for each scene, the costumes fitted properly, the tickets bought, and of course the script should be fully written and memorized by now. Thus with these elements in mind, the Deceuninck-Quickstep Wolfpack set about crafting a battle plan here that could prove a winning strategy later for Flanders itself. “
2021 MSR: Yet Another Recipe for a Mouthwatering Sanremo Finale (Written)
“At first, I liken it is to a massive 30-gallon cauldron filled to the brim with water needing to be brought to a boil on a regular kitchen stove that can support the cauldron’s weight. But this analogy is appallingly poor: for when the cauldron is finally brought to a boil, all one shall have is 30 gallons of boiling water. Not good enough, not good enough indeed. If we are to metaphorize the Milan-Sanremo’s slow burn, its finish must be compared to something far more extravagant than plain boiling water.”
2021 T-A: The Greatest Edition of Neptune’s Race (WRITTEN)
‘And all the race previews were hyping up the race well…except for one….“Well, this irks me,” King Neptune said. “What is this Cycling Odysseys podcast? Who is this Patrick Santino ant? A podcast named for that horrid Odysseus?”‘
Strade Bianche 2021: A Dream Final Selection (WRITTEN)
“And this is the Dream selection that forms the title of this piece. As I said, the chasers kept them close, but did any viewer in the world think anyone was gonna catch onto this group of All-Stars? No offense to the chasers, but did anyone want them to? Or can we all just admit a fantasy was coming true”
Team Preview 2021: Jumbo-Visma WRITTEN
“Wout said it himself: this is the best team in the world. From top to bottom and across the entire calendar, I do believe I agree.”
2021 Men’s CX Worlds: Deflation Interrupts the Mighty Aces PRINT
“I say this too, Mathieu. It is no secret, I root for Wout more than you, I’m even openly bummed he lost this race. But it is because Wout so often finds himself in an underdog position to yourself, it really is quite remarkable…your versatility and reliability makes you into a giant. I find it exciting when giants are slayed, but do not take it personally, and do not underestimate how much respect I have for the giants.”
Cycling Odysseys 