Tiesj Benoot anticipates Wout Van Aert to be back at the top of his game at Roubaix: "I think Wout can do even better"

Team Visma | Lease a Bike rode a strong Tour of Flanders as a team, just like at Dwars door Vlaanderen earlier last week. But no breakthrough result came out of the effort with Wout van Aert only 4th in the sprint for remaining podium spots and Tiesj Benoot in 6th.

It was Benoot who ignited the action in the second half of the race when along with Matteo Trentin or Filippo Ganna he bridged towards the breakaway. "For me, it was also ideal to anticipate and for the team. We had marked a few points to take action, but that wasn't necessary because I was already up front. With many good riders: Filippo Ganna with a teammate, Matteo Trentin with a teammate, Davide Ballerini with a teammate."

Based on that situation, the Belgian rode constantly, although he could not - unlike Van Aert - keep up at the crucial points. "In the end, three of us were among the best eight riders. We can be proud of that. Fourth and sixth is good, although it's a shame that Wout missed the podium."

"It was a successful day," Benoot concludes. "The course is so difficult. We made it difficult for him as a team, but Pogacar was simply the best rider. That is the fair and beautiful thing about the Tour of Flanders as it is today. This was the highest achievable, certainly today. I think Wout can do even better. Of course, he's come a long way since last year, but this was a super good race."

Matteo Jorgenson was also on his way to conclude De Ronde within top-10, but he suddenly disappeared in the final flat section. What happened there? "They just dropped you on the flat, didn't they?" sports director Grischa Niermann teased him in a video that Visma | Lease a Bike posted on social media.

The American jokingly responded, "I had a double flat - both my legs. You have to check the sealant in the tire because I had a double flat," he said with a wink.