Wout Van Aert showed extraordinary dedication and endurance in Stage 16 of the Giro d’Italia, expending an astonishing 7,300 calories while supporting teammate Simon Yates during one of the race’s toughest mountain stages.
Speaking to Sporza after the stage, Van Aert shared a telling insight into the physical demands of the day. “Simon is doing a good job, so it was a good stage for us, but a particularly tough stage. I burned 7,300 calories today,” the Belgian rider revealed.
Van Aert was part of a 24-rider breakaway on a day made even more difficult by poor weather conditions at the start. His role was strategic—position himself in the breakaway to offer critical support to Simon Yates, especially if rival GC (general classification) teams like EF Education-EasyPost or INEOS Grenadiers were present.
“When Darren Rafferty and Joshua Tarling went up the road, a gap formed. I didn’t hesitate and jumped across,” Van Aert explained. “It wasn’t the plan to stay out front with six riders for an entire hour, but that burns a lot of energy. Still, the only way I could help Simon was by building a bit of a lead.”
Van Aert delivered when it mattered most, finding his role on the early slopes of the San Valentino climb, where he set the pace to launch Yates. “I don’t know if it made the difference, but we had agreed that if the tempo wasn’t fast enough, I would attack on the first, less steep part of the climb,” he added.
Reflecting on the day’s GC implications, Van Aert noted a shift in the race dynamics. “The cards have been revealed today,” he said, as the general classification battle tightened. Simon Yates held on to second place despite a powerful ride from Richard Carapaz, who climbed into third overall. “Carapaz was already riding strong, and today he confirmed it,” Van Aert acknowledged.
With three riders now within 30 seconds of each other, Stage 16 may prove pivotal in the final outcome of this year’s Giro.
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