"If you look at the field of riders in the Tour, Wout van Aert is a big favourite. He can do everything by now, which should suit him," German Maximilian Schachmann told dpa ahead of the World Championship road race on Sunday (10.00 am) in Imola, Italy.
The 26-year-old van Aert, who actually comes from cross-country racing and has been world champion there three times, is now a master of all sub-disciplines. In the final week of a particularly exhausting Tour de France, he secured third place (mountain stage), fourth place (individual time trial) and sixth place (sprint in Paris). No other rider currently offers such a complete package, and silver in the time trial at the Road World Championships underlines van Aerts' brutal versatility.
The circuit in Imola has a lot in store that suits van Aert particularly well: Short, crisp climbs to attack, gravel tracks when leaving the race track, plus a possible sprint finale on the start-finish straight of Imola. "He is the clear favourite," said German Sporting Director Jens Zemke about the exceptional talent.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:200925-99-703950/3
