Rough weather "makes the race even harder and that suits me" - Wout van Aert

Wout van Aert's form is coming in at just the right time and he starts today's Gent-Wevelgem as perhaps the biggest favourite. His sprint is on point, but the strong team, tough terrain and harsh weather will favour the Jumbo-Visma rider.

“Why am I starting here? I think it is a super nice classic and would like to win this race again. It was always the idea to ride Gent-Wevelgem, and then work towards the Tour of Flanders for a week," van Aert said this morning in a pre-race interview. The Dutch team have Christophe Laporte, Olav Kooij and Nathan van Hooydonck as other weapons.

Van Aert however stars as the favourite for many. The team's lineup suggests that he will have the freedom to attack, and lacking the presence of van der Poel and Pogacar, there would not be many riders capable of following a move on the steep gradients of the Kemmelberg. As he tests his form ahead of the Tour des Flandres, this will be his final race.

“I secretly like these rough weather conditions. It certainly doesn't scare me. It makes the race even harder and that suits me," he concluded. An exciting race lays ahead in Belgium this afternoon.