Rumors Confirmed: Wout van Aert will Focus on the Giro d’Italia Next Year
Rumors have been building for a while that Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) will focus on the Giro d’Italia in 2024, rather than the Tour de France. And they’re quickly becoming a reality. GCN reported that van Aert was asked about his focus for next year when he was recently in Columbia. “‘Mainly the Giro d’Italia,’ replied van Aert…He further expanded that he likes Italy for its ‘atmosphere, gastronomy and the warmth and expressiveness of its people.’”
It’s unclear, or yet to be determined, if van Aert will be gunning for the GC, but with Primož Roglič gone from the team, it’s a definite possibility. Both Sepp Kuss and Jonas Vingegaard have essentially ruled out racing the Giro, which leaves room for van Aert to put on a show.
Van Aert is no stranger to racing in Italy; he’s ridden the Tirreno-Adriatico twice, and in 2020 won both Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo. Which is probably why he knows he loves the people, and the food.
GCN suggested that the 2024 Giro route will suit van Aert well. “As was revealed last month, the Giro route will contain 68.2km of time trialing, along with a somewhat neutered final week of climbing, both characteristics that will suit Van Aert as a super time trialist with the ability to prosper over long - but not steep - climbs.”
Of course, the Giro won’t be the only race on van Aert’s list. Far from it. First up he has five cyclocross races where he’ll battle it out with Mathieu van der Poel. Then he’ll be racing the spring classics in March and April. The Giro runs from May 4-26. Next van Aert will head to the Paris Olympics where he’ll race the time trial (July 27) and road race (August 4).
Right now the biggest concern for any fan is how to watch all of the action. With the announcement of GCN+ and the GCN App shutting down, many fans are frantic to know how they’ll watch bike racing at all. Hopefully there will be more options announced soon, because the excitement is about to be nonstop, and no one wants to miss a single moment.
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