The possibility of a late change had been left hanging. Now, that door is firmly closed. Team Visma | Lease a Bike have confirmed that Wout van Aert will not ride the E3 Saxo Classic, ending days of speculation around a potential last-minute addition to his programme and underlining a clear, deliberate shift towards the cobbled Monuments.
The uncertainty had emerged in the wake of Milano-Sanremo, where Van Aert battled back from a crash to finish on the podium. With illness affecting team selection and plans still being finalised, there had been room for doubt over whether he might yet be drafted into Friday’s race. That scenario will not materialise. The original plan stands.
A calculated route towards the Monuments
Rather than adding another race, Van Aert’s build-up is being shaped around what comes next. The focus is not on immediate racing opportunities, but on arriving at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix in peak condition.
That approach leaves little room for deviation. Including E3 would have meant sacrificing key training time at a point in the calendar where precision matters more than race days. Instead, the emphasis shifts towards controlled preparation, balancing race rhythm with the specific demands of the cobbled Monuments that define the coming weeks.
No deviation despite Sanremo momentum
Van Aert’s performance in Sanremo, achieved despite adversity, could easily have prompted a rethink. A podium finish, taken the hard way, pointed to strong underlying form.
But the decision not to race in Harelbeke shows that Visma are resisting that temptation. The plan is not being adjusted in response to short-term signals, but held steady with the bigger targets in mind. That clarity also reflects the nature of Van Aert’s spring. The margins at Flanders and Roubaix are too fine to compromise preparation, even slightly.
Responsibility shifts within Visma
With Van Aert absent, the leadership at E3 Saxo Classic passes elsewhere within the team. Christophe Laporte becomes the central figure, supported by a group built to compete collectively rather than around a single dominant leader. His previous result in the race offers a clear reference point, but the dynamic will inevitably be different without Van Aert.
For Visma, though, that is secondary. The priority has already been decided. The speculation is over. The focus is fixed. And for Van Aert, everything now points towards the races that matter most.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike for E3 Saxo Classic 2026
| Christophe Laporte |
| Edoardo Affini |
| Per Strand Hagenes |
| Axel Zingle |
| Filippo Fiorelli |
| Timo Kielich |
| Owain Doull |
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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