I want to talk about something bigger than tactics for a second.
Wout Van Aert just won Paris-Roubaix. And yes, the way he raced was brilliant, his Race Open was controlled, his Race Flow was intelligent, and his Race Close was powerful. We can break all of that down technically. But what really moves me about this win is the foundation underneath all of it.
Wout has been chasing this race for years. He committed to winning Roubaix in honor of a teammate and friend he lost back in 2018. He visualized that finish line salute. He carried that purpose through crashes, near-misses, and seasons where it just didn't come together. And he never let go of it.
That's not just inspiration, that's actually great coaching.
Because here's what I've learned from working with cyclists at every level: the riders who improve the most aren't always the most talented. They're the ones who have a clear vision, trust the process, and stay consistent even when results don't come right away.
The Open, Flow, Close framework works in a single race. But it also works across a whole season, or a whole career. Wout opened his Roubaix chapter years ago. He flowed through the hard middle, learning from every attempt. And on Sunday, he closed it perfectly.
In CINCH we say your timeline is your timeline. That's something I believe deeply. And the best thing you can do is build a plan that respects where you are right now while moving you toward where you want to go.
Keep going,
Tom Danielson
Founder, CINCH Cycling
