"It is a bit pointless to talk about all those scenarios" - Wout Van Aert on Flanders tactics; Vermeersch's online threats; Pogacar as the big favourite

Team Visma | Lease a Bike is starting the Tour of Flanders this Sunday with one of the favourites: Wout Van Aert. But how can the Dutch team outsmart the more powerful climbers such as Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel; and the wildcard Remco Evenepoel on the bergs of 'De Ronde'?

This and much more were discussed this Friday afternoon. When being asked by the general media, the Belgian first shared his opinion on the online abuse that UAE Team Emirates - XRG's Florian Vermeersch went through after collaborating in the chase of Van Aert during Dwars door Vlaanderen which cost him the win.

“I was surprised, yes. It was the first time I received hate messages and little threats. I had never experienced anything like this. It got to me for a moment, but now I’ve been able to process it," his compatriot said. Van Aert was disappointed to learn this and advocated against it:

"Unfortunately, this is pretty much the world we live in, it is easy to post comments and say mean things," Van Aert lamented in the press conference that included the other big favourites to the race, including Vermeersch's teammate Tadej Pogacar. "Behind your screen, you are always safe. That is not how it should be. I would advise Florian not to look at his social media too much."

The stakes are high this week, perhaps higher than ever for riders such as Vermeersch and Van Aert who partly carry the home country's hopes of achieving a strong result - Remco Evenepoel's addition to the startlist has certainly helped its case, however.

Van Aert arrives with confidence after some good races, but is cautious as its not the first time and he hasn't been able to win the monument in the past. "I certainly feel better than my first time in 2018, but I have started here with good legs before. And I have also been unable to start here twice, even though I had good legs the week before. But I am happy with how I feel right now. I have been able to approach the last few races the way I wanted: racing aggressively."

The ankle fracture suffered in January was seen as an obstacle, but in the long run, he was able to train well throughout the winter and seems to be hitting peak form once again at the right moment. His third place at Milano-Sanremo was impressive; whilst at Middelkerke - Wevelgem and Dwars door Vlaanderen he was on the attack and showed his best legs in years at the non-monument cobbled classics.

"We stayed calm and we knew there was enough time to reach a good level. Without injuries, I would have liked to have been better already in the Strade Bianche, but perhaps I needed exactly those races to take the final step."

"I am satisfied with how I will be positioned at the start. I have no complaints about that. In Wevelgem and Dwars door Vlaanderen it was just short twice, but on Sunday everyone's counters will be back to zero."

He knows that despite being in good form, the race can be over in a moment, and so he tempers his expectations.

"Maybe I am more relaxed than a few years ago. I enjoy the process more. I accept some things more easily or appreciate them more. So it could be true, yes. That has to do with experience and age. Older and wiser." Can this bring him the cherry on top of the cake in Flanders? Many fans on the road will hope so. But the main challengers in Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel are hard to overcome, in whichever scenario.

As was the case with his fellow competitors, Van Aert was asked about Remco Evenepoel, who kept his presence in the race a secret until this week. But he did not make a big deal out of the change.

"I cannot predict how he will change the race, but that he will influence the course of events is almost certain. Remco has shown so often that he can do this. He is an extra competitor. Is he also an ally? Of course, I am saying now that I hope so, but that depends on how the race evolves."

"There are so many factors that will play a role. What I like about him is that he always rides and races. That is how I view myself as well, and that can work well. But it is a bit pointless to talk about all those scenarios right now," the Visma leader states. "In Flanders, it is chaos anyway, and things happen differently than you expected. You cannot predict that."

Van Aert sat next to Pogacar, van der Poel and Evenepoel. However, this does not mean that all four are at the same level. And for him, there is a clear favourite. "I wouldn't put myself in the G4. I find that term a bit silly. That, above all. People also always forget quickly, because Pogacar stood ridiculously far above the rest in the Strade Bianche and Sanremo".

"Just because he didn't compete last week doesn't mean we should forget how good he is. Tadej is super strong and Mathieu's palmares in the Tour speaks for itself".

Beating them directly is a hard task, but not an impossible one. Hence Van Aert keeps his game open heading into Flanders. "I am realistic about that. That is how I approach the start."