Is only illness causing lesser Giro form Van Aert? Analysts may see another reason: "Things were going well until..."

Van Aert rolled across the finish line in Vlorë on Sunday more than fifteen minutes behind. He had already been dropped early on the final climb, and following a lackluster time trial on Saturday, it turned into a difficult weekend for the 30-year-old. Thijs Zonneveld noticed the same. “He was really bad today (Sunday, ed.),” the Dutch analyst said on the In De Waaier podcast. Still, Zonneveld believes Van Aert can bounce back. “I think Van Aert has so much natural class that he can still improve during a grand tour. Not many riders can do that, but he has something to build on.”

Due to the illness in the weeks before the Giro, there were doubts about Van Aert’s form heading into Friday’s opening stage. Although he couldn’t keep up with Lidl-Trek’s pace just before the summit of the final climb, he still managed to take an impressive second place in the sprint. But Zonneveld actually believes that effort might have backfired. “On the first day, he clearly went far beyond his limits trying to win the stage and take the pink jersey. In the time trial and again today (Sunday, ed.), he was well below his usual level. The effects of his recent illness are plain to see, so what he did on day one is all the more impressive,” said Zonneveld.

In the Eurosport podcast Kop over Kop, analysts discussed what they had learned from the Giro d’Italia’s opening weekend. Bobbie Traksel had a clear takeaway. “I’ve learned that some riders are honest about their preparation. When you ask, ‘How’s it going?’ it’s always: not great, didn’t train enough. And then they end up riding your legs off,” said the 43-year-old Dutchman, referring to Wout van Aert. “You’d hear stories about how sick he was, that it had hit him hard. Then you watch that first stage and think: see, another one of those stories. But in the time trial, and a time trial doesn’t lie, it was clear that Van Aert really had been sick.”

Commentator Jan Hermsen, meanwhile, saw another possible reason besides the illness. “Being a pro cyclist and trying to peak for a grand tour is, unfortunately, hard to combine with family life. We’ve heard Van Aert’s story. It’s great that he does it, great that he wants to go on vacation with his family and train there. But in the end, it doesn’t work out,” said the Dutchman. “I’m not saying it’s alarming, but I don’t think he’ll do it that way again. And that’s kind of sad, because the guys who dominated this spring are living their lives differently.”

Traksel agrees with Hermsen’s comments, and in fact, he recently read something that got him thinking. “Things were going really well for Van Aert, until his oldest child started school. Until then, he could just go on altitude camps, and the whole family could come along.” According to Traksel, that change affected Van Aert. “That probably hit him hard. It’s partly true, but still a bit unfortunate.” Hermsen agreed: “It breaks me a little to say this. I’ve always supported involving your family in your career. But once the kids start school, your schedule has to shift.”

Still, according to Lars van den Berg, there’s no reason to panic for the Belgian. Can Van Aert still find his better legs later in this Giro? “I think it’s possible,” said the 26-year-old Dutchman. “But I also think it’s important that he picks his days, he shouldn’t go over the limit too early or too often, or he won’t be able to recover.”

In the HLN podcast Wuyts & Vlaeminck, analyst Michel Wuyts also immediately brought up his fellow Belgian’s illness. “If the body isn’t cooperating, it’s wise not to push it even harder at the start of a grand tour,” said Wuyts. However, he also made a striking observation: “His base fitness this year was actually solid, but in the spring he almost never escapes an infection or viral illness. It’s a recurring story.”

Wuyts sees a possible cause in Van Aert’s intense training schedule. “He’s extremely meticulous in his training and how he carries it out. That can really wear the body down and make you more vulnerable.” Greg Van Avermaet agrees with Wuyts’ reasoning. “With those extreme training blocks, you lose some immunity and become more susceptible to viruses.”

But even these analysts eventually point to Van Aert’s personal life as a factor, he has two young children at home, aged four and nearly two. “Kids come home from school or daycare, and of course you’re not going to ignore them. That means you get a bit less rest, and I experienced that myself during my career. Your immunity drops, but you still want to complete your training properly.”

Van Avermaet, speaking from experience, knows what lies ahead for his former teammate. “At this point in his career, Van Aert really needs to think carefully about that and discuss it with his coach. A rider of his caliber doesn’t want to compromise on training or its quality, but sometimes, I think, it might be necessary.”