Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma) has criticised the Netflix Tour de France Unchained series for what he says are efforts to create a rift or rivalry between him and his team leader, and 2022 race winner, Jonas Vingegaard.
Van Aert has claimed the series seeks to focus on small moments when his goals and those of Vingegaard appear to be at odds. But, he says, the series does not linger on the key moments of the race when they were unified.
In reality, Van Aert, at times, kept Vingegaard in the general classification battle - effectively rescuing him on stage 5 - and then played an absolutely crucial role in ensuring he went on to win the race.
“It is quite disturbing that stories were placed in the documentary that weren’t there. For me, the series is focused on commotion,” Van Aert says in an interview with Belgian media outlet, Sporza.
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"Jonas and I are best mates. It focuses on moments where it's hard to make the right choice, but there are also so many moments where we supported each other and worked together. It's a shame that that was taken out.”
In episode 2 of the series - 'Welcome to Hell' - stage 4 into Calais is featured. Van Aert won solo after an incredible attack on the final climb, initially bringing Vingegaard and Simon Yates (Ineos Grenadiers) with him. However, when Vingegaard and Yates lost a few lengths over the top of the climb, Van Aert looked back and saw them being dropped and pressed on alone for a brilliant victory.
When he entered the cool-down area after the stage, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) conceded to Van Aert he had been caught by surprise by the attack. However, he added he was "lucky" with the way it turned out as Van Aert had dropped his team mates - meaning Vingegaard did not gain any time.
That topic - Van Aert opting to continue riding alone rather than waiting for a moment to allow Vingegaard back up to him - was revisited within the Jumbo Visma team, in scenes captured by the Netflix documentary and shown in episode 2.
Vingegaard made clear on screen his unease, suggesting if Van Aert had waited for a moment, the two of them could have ridden away and gained time.
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"I was frustrated because I really wanted to be in Wout's wheel. If he had waited two seconds for me, that could have made the difference. I hope he realises that the yellow jersey is the main goal," he said.
Later, as Van Aert is having a massage, Jumbo Visma directeur, Grischa Niermann, is sitting beside him and tells him: "When you sped off without any effort, Jonas said he was upset because he said he didn't have the confidence... he was just a little too far away so, unfortunately, he was upset afterwards. If you had waited, he would certainly have caught up with you. We have to make sure everyone's together, OK?"
Van Aert is laying on the massage table and appears to reply to those remarks with a nod of agreement.
There are also other times in the race when Van Aert's ambitions appear at odds with the team's aim of winning the Tour overall. On stage 15 to Carcassonne, for example, when the team lost both Primož Roglič and Steven Kruijswijk, yellow jersey Vingegaard also crashes.
However, rather than wait for his team mate and race leader, Van Aert remains in the bunch - hoping to win the stage. He leaves it to Christophe Laporte to bring Vingegaard back to the bunch, which he does. Van Aert is very clear on the documentary all he was thinking about was the stage win - though he was 2nd on the day. He said others in the team were strong enough to bring Vingegaard back to the bunch.
Ultimately, however, Van Aert sacrifices his chances on the race at absolutely crucial times, all for Vingegaard. The day after his win into Calais he drops out of the reduced peloton on stage 5 across the pavé to wait for Vingegaard, after he crashed and had to change bikes several times.
Van Aert almost single handedly drags Vingegaard back to within 14 seconds of Pogačar. That performance by Van Aert kept Vingegaard's hopes alive and was one of the best - maybe the very best - performances on the race, and one of most selfless rides.
Also, on stage 18 to Hautacam, Van Aert was on the attack but is caught by Pogačar and Vingegaard. Once caught by them, he went to the front about 5km from the finish and his turn ensured Pogačar was dropped. Van Aert rode so hard at that moment of the race he came to a standstill afterwards as the fan's video footage at this link shows.
Van Aert's big turn that day meant Vingegaard was clear at the front alone; going on to take the stage victory and putt another 1:04 into his nearest rival, Pogačar.
