Whether you credit his cyclocross background, work ethic or supreme genetics, Wout van Aert is now the man to beat on the road right now.
The Jumbo Visma rider took advantage of a windstrewn peloton and made easy work of the few remaining sprinters on Stage 7 of the 2020 Tour de France.
The three-time Cyclocross World Champ looked boxed in, but what cyclocross racer hasn’t felt that heading down the finish straight for the first time?
Have a watch of the last kilometer of the stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA8nQN_tfmc
Van Aert left perpetual green jersey holder and Cyclocross Worlds silver medalist Peter Sagan far behind.
The Stage 7 victory is Van Aert’s third sprint victory in two years of racing Le Tour, after winning Stage 5 just two days ago and winning Stage 10 last year.
Van Aert wasn’t the only Cyclocross World Champ taking stage wins. Tom Pidcock of Trinity Racing has been on a tear as well:
Another win on top of a big ting hill. 1 stage to go @TrinityRacing_ 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qqgAxrZbI7
— Tom Pidcock (@Tompid) September 4, 2020
While it’s no secret we hope Van Aert, Pidcock and Mathieu van der Poel stick with cyclocross, as former Cyclocross World Champ Lars Boom recommends, we are salivating thinking about seeing the three go head-to-head in a future Tour de France green jersey competition.
