Van Aert’s Struggles in Giro Stages Two and Three Raise Concerns
After narrowly missing victory in the Giro d’Italia’s opening stage, finishing just behind Mads Pedersen, Wout van Aert’s results in stages two and three fell far short of expectations. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider had already dealt with illness leading up to the race, but cycling experts believe there may be more to his underwhelming form.
The Belgian crossed the finish line in Vlorë on Sunday over fifteen minutes behind the leaders. Dropped early on the final climb, his performance came on the heels of a lackluster time trial Saturday, making it a difficult weekend for the 30-year-old. Dutch analyst Thijs Zonneveld took note. “He was really bad today (Sunday),” he said on the In De Waaier podcast. Still, Zonneveld remains optimistic: “Van Aert has so much natural talent that he can still improve as the tour progresses. Few riders have that capacity.”
Though there were already doubts about Van Aert’s condition due to recent illness, his second-place finish in Friday’s opener still impressed—despite losing the wheel of Lidl-Trek near the top of the final climb. However, Zonneveld suggested that this early effort may have done more harm than good. “He clearly pushed past his limit trying to win and take the pink jersey,” he noted. “It left a mark—he looked far from his usual self in the time trial and again on Sunday. That makes his performance on day one even more impressive given the circumstances.”
Eurosport Analysts Offer Their Perspective: “He won’t repeat that mistake”
On Eurosport’s Kop over Kop podcast, analysts reflected on the Giro’s opening weekend. Bobbie Traksel pointed out an important lesson. “I’ve realized some riders are genuinely transparent about their form. They say, ‘Not great, didn’t train enough,’ and then still ride everyone off their wheels,” he said, referencing Van Aert. “You’d hear about how sick he was and think, here we go again. But the time trial doesn’t lie—it showed he really had been struggling.”
Commentator Jan Hermsen suggested another factor beyond illness: the challenge of balancing a professional cycling career with family life. “We know Van Aert’s story—he wants to go on vacation with his family and train during that time, which is admirable. But in practice, it doesn’t work out,” he said. “It’s not necessarily a crisis, but I doubt he’ll follow that approach again. It’s unfortunate, but those who dominated this spring are living quite differently.”
Family Responsibilities May Be Affecting Van Aert’s Performance
Traksel echoed Hermsen’s sentiments, recalling a detail that stood out to him. “Van Aert seemed fine until his oldest child started school. Until then, they could all travel to altitude camps together.” That change, he believes, had an impact. “It must have been tough for him. It’s understandable, but still a bit sad,” Traksel noted. Hermsen agreed, adding, “It’s tough to say, but when kids start school, your whole rhythm changes.”
Still, Dutch rider Lars van den Berg doesn’t see cause for alarm. Can Van Aert rebound later in the race? “Absolutely,” he said. “But he has to be smart about it—choose the right days to go for it, and avoid burning out early.”
Wuyts Says Illness is a Pattern and Suggests Another Root Cause
On the Wuyts & Vlaeminck podcast by HLN, analyst Michel Wuyts also highlighted Van Aert’s recurring illnesses. “If your body isn’t cooperating, it’s wise not to push hard right away in a grand tour,” he said. Still, he noted, “Van Aert’s base fitness looked fine earlier this year, but he often falls ill in the spring. It’s become a pattern.”
Wuyts suspects the cause may lie in Van Aert’s intense training regimen. “He’s extremely disciplined and precise in his preparation. That kind of stress can wear down your immune system,” he said. Fellow Belgian Greg Van Avermaet agreed. “Pushing through heavy training blocks can weaken immunity and leave you vulnerable to illness.”
Van Avermaet Relates the Challenge to Parenthood
Despite different theories, many analysts come back to Van Aert’s home life. He has two young children, aged four and nearly two. “Kids bring germs home from school or daycare—you can’t just avoid them,” Van Avermaet explained. “You end up getting less rest, even though you’re trying to maintain your training.”
From his own experience, Van Avermaet sees a need for caution. “At this stage in his career, Van Aert must think carefully and talk with his coach. He’s a top-level rider and doesn’t want to cut corners in training, but sometimes compromises are necessary.”
