Today, Jumbo – Visma announced Wout van Aert will be a part of its 8-man roster for the 2019 Tour de France. The announcement that Van Aert will be racing the biggest bike race in the world is the latest sign of how the young star is progressing in his road career.
“Wout is ready for this next step,” Jumbo – Visma sportive director Merijn Zeeman said in a team release. “He makes our team even stronger. He hasn’t had a lot of race days and Wout has prepared himself in an ideal way. After the Tour, he will ride the Prudential Ride London and after that, his cyclocross season starts.”
Van Aert recorded a brief statement about the news:
Exciting news!! #TDF2019 @JumboVismaRoad
➡️ https://t.co/DLRQk3hbWL pic.twitter.com/KnS8cBN5ke— Wout van Aert (@WoutvanAert) June 10, 2019
Although his rival Mathieu van der Poel stole the show during the spring classics, Van Aert had a campaign most riders would gladly trade for in a heartbeat. Van Aert took third at Strade Bianche, second at the E3 Binckbank Classic and sixth at Milan – San Remo.
Van Aert is currently racing the Criterium de Dauphine, where he finished third in Stage 1.
Jumbo – Visma had two riders finish in the top 5 of the 2018 Tour de France GC in Primoz Roglic and Steven Kruijswick. Kruijswick returns in 2019, along with Dylan Groenewegen, who won two sprint stages last year.
Stay tuned for more as #woutwatch heads to Le Tour.
Featured image: Bart Hazen
