Shocking: I hope I’m not upsetting any sprinters by saying this…” – Wout van Aert blasts Tour de France organisers for

Wout van Aert, one of cycling’s most versatile riders, has stirred up a bit of controversy with his comments about the 2023 Tour de France. In a recent interview, the Belgian star expressed his frustration with the race organisers, particularly with the way the route and stages have been designed for sprinters. He made a pointed remark, “I hope I’m not upsetting any sprinters by saying this, but the Tour de France should have more opportunities for riders like me.” His comment seems to target the increasing lack of sprint finishes and opportunities for riders with his skill set to shine.

Van Aert, who has proven his capabilities in a range of terrains, from flat sprints to challenging mountain stages, pointed out that the Tour has become too focused on general classification contenders and has neglected the sprinter’s needs. “There are too many days where sprinters don’t get the chance to battle it out, or the route isn’t suited for a proper sprint,” he continued.

His comments came in the wake of a Tour that had several mountain-heavy stages and a reduced number of flat sprint opportunities, which many riders felt marginalized them. Van Aert, known for his all-around ability, has taken advantage of the few opportunities to sprint, winning stage victories, but the trend of harder, more selective routes is becoming a concern for teams and riders who focus on sprints.

While some might view his remarks as a bit of a dig at the organisers or even sprinters themselves, it highlights a deeper issue of balancing the race to give all types of riders—whether climbers, sprinters, or all-rounders—a fair shot. The debate has ignited a discussion on the future of race design and what it means to make the Tour an inclusive challenge for all riders.