"It might be the race that suits him best... So why stay away?" - Wout van Aert's Milano-Sanremo absence questioned
Cycling
The first Monument of the 2025 season awaits the peloton this weekend at Milano-Sanremo. For Wout van Aert, it is a race with a lot of history attached, with it being the only Monument he has ever won back in 2020. This time around however, the Belgian superstar is set to be one of the more notable absentees from the start line.
As mentioned, despite all of Van Aert's numerous successes over the course of his career, just one Monument win has been added to his palmares. A relatively poor return for someone of such immense talent. Of all of the five biggest one-day races on the cycling calendar though, it is arguably Milano-Sanremo that has always suited him best. As such, the 30-year-old's decision to skip the Italian Classic in 2025 has not been met with approval by some of his fellow countrymen, with the Belgian cycling expert Michel Wuyts notably speaking out.
"It's too late now, but how I would have loved to see Van Aert start in the race he can win," Wuyts explains on the latest episode of his Wuyts & De Vlaeminck podcast. "Have you looked at his list of honours in San Remo? Three times on the podium, with one win and two third places. The other two times also in the top-10. What more should you want?"
Because of the Belgian being able to compete with the best in the world in the sprints, and having proven himself as a more than capable climber over the years, the ascents of the Cipressa and the Poggio should not fear Van Aert according to Wuyts. "It might be the race that suits him best," insists the former Sporza commentator. "He can flash on the Poggio and if he survives in a group he can finish it in a sprint on the Via Roma if need be. So why stay away?" Wuyts questions rhetorically.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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