Van Aert on mixed spring campaign: "Taking into account that positive covid test, I think I got the most out of it"

Wout van Aert has found in Jumbo-Visma a team dedicated to his classics goals, to which he delivered this year despite the bad timing on a covid-19 infection just before the Tour des Flandres.

"Taking into account that positive covid test, I think I got the most out of it. Unfortunately, the virus has ensured that my original plans – achieving my very best level in Flanders and Roubaix – were thwarted," he told Wielerflits.

Nevertheless, he went on to finish Roubaix in second place, before an equally strong third at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Strong results, but to a rider of his quality and ambition, only a win mattered on the day. Nevertheless, wins at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the E3 Saxo Bank Classic has him gather quality wins during the spring, “until before the Tour of Flanders, we were dominant in every race," van Aert said.

"That was what we were looking for and we succeeded. We were decisive and took a step forward. Also the competitions in which I was not there, prizes were taken. You're talking about Tiesj and Chistophe, but guys who were already there have also taken a step, ike Nathan Van Hooydonck," he added. Whilst Laporte second at E3 Saxo Bank, Gent-Wevelgem and ninth at the Tour des Flandres, Tiesj Benoot rode to second on Dwars door Vlaanderen and ninth at E3 Saxo Bank Classic.

There are reports that Dylan van Baarle is already a confirmed transfer for 2023, of which van Aert says that "steps are being walked, but I can't say anything about that," alluring that there is information not yet revealed to the public. 

Jumbo-Visma took a major step this spring, being an overly dominant figure in the cobbled classics whilst van Aert was present. However the chances of evolving further are high. “Do we necessarily need someone extra in the future? No! We now have a core with which we can win the biggest races, but of course I won't say no if an extra strong pawn were won," he pointed out.