Team Visma | Lease a Bike and Wout van Aert go in search of victory at Amstel Gold Race: “The switch from cobblestones to hilly classics should not be underestimated”

With a spring campaign that is finally going in the right direction, Wout van Aert appears to be finding his form just in time for the Ardennes Classics. Following two strong fourth-place finishes at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, Team Visma | Lease a Bike now shift their focus to De Brabantse Pijl on Friday and the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday.

Van Aert is set to return to De Brabantse Pijl for the first time in several years, taking advantage of the revised calendar.

“I'm looking forward to being back at the start of De Brabantse Pijl,” Van Aert said in a team press release. “I didn't ride the race for several years, but because of the calendar change, the race fits into my schedule this year. So it’s an extra opportunity for me to ride a beautiful spring classic.”

The Belgian came close to victory in his previous appearance at the race, “I already came close to victory once in my first and only participation in 2021, so the course suits me,” he continued. “I feel good, so I definitely hope to be able to play a role in the finale again. With that goal I will be at the start.”

If van Aert does want to win the Amstel Gold this Sunday, he will have to take on Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel and Tom Pidcock. One big name who won’t be present, is Van Aert’s nemesis Mathieu van der Poel.

Tiesj Benoot also has high hopes for the weekend and sees De Brabantse Pijl as the ideal warm-up for Amstel, “De Brabantse Pijl is an ideal preparation for the Amstel Gold Race. They are two beautiful races where I have managed to achieve a few places of honor in the past. In the Amstel Gold Race, teams usually start racing hard far from the finish line.

“I hope such a scenario will happen again. Also, the Cauberg gets a more important role in the finale again, which can be advantageous to the attackers. I definitely see chances for a top result with the team, starting with De Brabantse Pijl on Friday.”

Sports director Frans Maassen, who himself won the Amstel Gold Race in 1991, believes Van Aert is perfectly suited to the unique demands of the Ardennes, “The Amstel Gold Race has a strong field of participants. Where you can still really see De Brabantse Pijl as a classic that runs partly over cobblestones, the Amstel Gold Race is all about climbing.

“The switch from cobblestones to hilly classics should not be underestimated. That combination is reserved for only a few riders, but if anyone can do it well, it's Wout. He has already proven that in the past,” Maassen said.

The team is hopeful of continuing its positive momentum in front of home fans, “It's a brilliant race. As a Dutch cycling team we ride in front of the home crowd. Hopefully we’re able to continue the upward trend of the last few weeks.

“Tiesj was already good in the Ardennes classics last season and has made it a goal this year as well and really lived up to it. Hopefully Ben Tulett can join our two leaders, so that we can show ourselves in the finale.”

For De Brabantse Pijl, the team will line up with Wout van Aert, Tiesj Benoot, Niklas Behrens, Daniel McLay, Tosh van der Sande, and Julian Vermote.

At the Amstel Gold Race, Van Aert and Benoot will be joined by Dylan van Baarle, Ben Tulett, Daniel McLay, Tosh van der Sande, and Attila Valter as they go in search of a major victory on home soil.