"I wasn't always rightly promoted to top favorite" - Wout van Aert on Flanders plans and already with an eye on Paris-Roubaix
Cycling
Wout van Aert is coming to the Tour de Flanders with mixed feelings. On the one hand his defeat at Dwars door Vlaanderen was a big blow and changes his status within the team for such a race; but on the other he arrives knowing he's finding his best legs for the first time this spring.
"That was a serious blow. Fortunately, I feel much better two days later. The great thing about cycling is that there are always new opportunities. Already on Sunday with the Tour of Flanders," van Aert said in a press conference this afternoon, as reported by Sporza. "It would have been a shame to get stuck in that disappointment of Waregem."
However, he is quick to point out that on Wednesday he had good form, and the team raced perfectly in it's key part. "My performance in Dwars door Vlaanderen has boosted my confidence. Conditionally, I am where I hoped. Positioning for the hills also went much better than in the opening weekend. That indicates good legs," he adds.
Going into Flanders, this time around he won't be quoted within the big favourites, this status will be had by Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar who will with certainty attack the climbs. If anyone has the third spot in terms of favoritism, it will be Gent Wevelgem winner Mads Pedersen.
"Pogacar and Van der Poel are the two big favourites. I hope that I have my best legs on Sunday and can follow them," the Belgian anticipates. "Of course I want to win. But I have to be honest and say that it will be very difficult to beat them. I think I wasn't always rightly promoted to top favorite. This year I'm not at the top and I can approach the race in a different way."
This could potentially mean more open or aggressive tactics. Visma have a strong team and at DDV they put it on full display with an impressive collective attack. But how to surprise on a race as difficult as 'De Ronde' is a very different question.
Van Aert doesn't exclude also working for Matteo Jorgenson if it fits the sensations of both on the day, he will not be a sole leader. "Of course I want to ride the final myself. If Matteo and I are both there, we can discuss who is the strongest. Our goal is to win".
Lastly he was asked about Paris-Roubaix which will take place in just over a week's time, and he admits that "Paris-Roubaix suits me better than the Ronde. Will Pogacar's participation in Roubaix change anything? On the one hand, yes, because we might get a different race. But on the other hand, Paris-Roubaix remains a difficult race to win."
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Tour of Flanders press talks 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/qbMQGKbpJ4
— Team Visma | Lease a Bike (@vismaleaseabike) April 4, 2025
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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