"I see the coming competitions mainly as preparation" - Wout van Aert links up with Sepp Kuss and Olav Kooij to start season in Spain

Wout van Aert starts his season this weekend at the Clásica de Almeria, and then follows that up with the Clásica Jaén Paraiso Interior. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider will headline both, as he prepares for a very important spring where he will search monument and Grand Tour victories.

“We want to take a shot at victory with Olav. It is an ideal moment to race together again. We will of course also do that later this year in the Giro d'Italia.," van Aert says in the team's website, ahead of the race in Almeria which should suit the sprinters the most. Personally, I see the coming competitions mainly as preparation for my first big goals of the year."

The Belgian has given up on the idea of racing the cyclocross World Championships and ended his winter schedule early and as planned, took some rest and began a full-focus preparation to the road. He will first build-up towards the Opening Weekend, having the Volta ao Algarve as a final preparation.

“I hope to take the final step towards top form and I will choose my days. There are a number of nice stages and a time trial," he says of the Portuguese stage-race, where he could even be among the main favourite for overall win if he chooses to do so.

Team DS Arthur van Dongen says of this key weekend ahead: “The Spanish races are great opportunities to get back into the rhythm. Part of our classic core rides here. It is important for them to arrive at the start in the opening weekend in the best possible shape. These competitions will certainly contribute to that.”

The Dutch team has reasons to believe it can snatch several victories however, that will not only be the case in Spain but also in the Volta ao Algarve. “We will aim for stage victories in the Algarve, where getting the good feeling and coordinating pleasant collaborations are the most important goals in the run-up to spring.”