"I've become more realistic" - Wout van Aert's Tour of Flanders ambitions shaped by his Paris Roubaix masterpiece and rivals Pogacar and Evenepoel
Cycling
Wout van Aert is taking a realistic attitude towards his major goals moving forward in 2027. After the soaring heights of Paris-Roubaix victory, the Belgian rider knows that a Tour of Flanders win is not out of the picture, but admits that it remains a goal steeped in realism.
Of course, his Roubaix victory brought a new belief and sense of accomplishment in terms of his career, but the Visma | Lease a Bike leader knows that Tadej Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel and even Remco Evenepoel are huge hurdles in the way of a Flanders win.
But the Roubaix victory was certainly a needle-move, admits van Aert. The 32-year-old revelaed that he would be almost constantly asked about the success in the months that followed as he discussed the way the win resonated with many fans.
“For the first two or three months, it was practically every day—sometimes even a few times a day. Now it’s a little less frequent. After all, the news value of a sporting event always fades over time," Van Aert told Fiets NL.
Van Aert on Paris Roubaix win
"In a way, the cycling season just carries on as usual, and other major races follow. But Roubaix keeps coming up again and again. You notice that people are quick to bring it up. It’s a victory that clearly resonates deeply."
Looking back on his road to a second monument win, Van Aert believes that his previous landmark wins were something of a progression as they came at appropriate times during his career. However, his cobbled masterpiece in April came 'finally' after several years of asking.
"Those previous big victories aren't even that far behind us, but back then it felt more like a logical next step in my development as a cyclist. This time, for me and for everyone else, it was much more of a release.
"The word ‘finally’ comes up a lot. I noticed that in the reactions, too. Apparently, I’ve made a lot of people happy."
Looking forward, the Visma man stresses realism when it comes to future Roubaix or Flanders goals as he describes the joy and disbelief that his day finally came. For Flanders, he believes that he needs to keep going to the well and take any opportunity that arises.
"In the meantime, I've become more realistic about it. I realize that I've already achieved so many wonderful things. That doesn't take away from the fact that Roubaix remained a huge source of motivation. Of course, there was relief after all the work I’d put into it, but above all, it was a deeply moving moment of joy.
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"I didn’t expect to pull it off this year"
“To be honest, I didn’t expect to pull it off this year either. That teaches me that I have to keep trying. There are riders who have better odds, but there are also very few riders who get opportunities like I do. That opportunity could come at any time, and when it does, I have to be ready. The same goes for the Tour of Flanders.”
And so, Van Aert knows his belief and motivation is there, backed up by his Roubaix triumph. However, he warned that Pogacar and Evenepoel in particular are formidable opponents in the race.
"At the same time, it’s no coincidence that I succeeded in Roubaix of all places. It’s one of the few classics where I have a more than realistic chance.
“The Tour of Flanders is getting tougher and tougher, especially with [Tadej] Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel in the field. I have to keep believing in myself, but also be realistic.”
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- yeah... you're right...PogiSloFans04-11-2026
- Podcast sounds great. Two so called experts stating the f*cking obvious.wrsty04-11-2026
- A mindset that reminds me of Tim Declerq. I loved watching that guy just pound away the kilometers, hours at the front, holding an entire breakaway in check on his own. Bjerg seems like a similar guy. Curling, the team sport.RidesHills04-11-2026
- He will be lol, but he can still win on the climbs hahaawp04-11-2026
- I would love to have his inconsistency. How many wins this year? 2 TdF stages, a WC, a Euro championship, San Sebastian, multiple wins early year. Monument podiums. I'd take it. I don't think he has a chance in the TdF, but he is still amazing.mij04-11-2026
- He's not going to win the TdF. Maybe if they make every single stage a TT he could win. But I still believe Tadej would just sharpen his TT skills and win.mij04-11-2026
- You beat me to it. Should he make a full recovery (likely) and go light early in the year. One, two, three. Don't ask me, I don't give a damn. Should he be on a Feel-Like-He's-Fixin'-to-Die High.Yepperoni04-11-2026
- The deciding factor may be the (TBD) number of (any type of) kilometers without Pogacar.Yepperoni04-11-2026
- Unexplained chronic fatigue is an all too common bitch. The hard to find definitive answer may lie buried in gut mechanisms. A mystery of the deep.Yepperoni04-11-2026
- It's weird to say Evenepoel would be making a "serious mistake by adding the 2027 Giro d'Italia to his calendar, warning that such a decision could even be interpreted as a lack of confidence in his ability to win the Tour de France." It may well be a mistake but with so many commentators (of all sorts) continuously claiming almost everything Remco does as being a mistake, almost nobody should care what the pundits and the disparagers should say. His team may not want him to do the Giro, and that matters. But it's possibly or probably up to Remco to decide and it may not have to be decided on until a month or so ahead of the race. Yes , Remco is inconsistent much like the majority of the best riders but he's enjoying a period of not having been recently injured (or sick). Whatever he does he need not be concerned with critics who will second guess any perceived failure no matter what. I suspect he will have enough other races on his schedule so he won't be considering it. But the worst reason to not race it is because of what some will say - humorous that be.Yepperoni04-11-2026
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