"We want to have the best possible Wout" - Jumbo-Visma justify Wout van Aert's absence from Strade Bianche
Cycling
Wout van Aert has put his initial schedule for the road season on hold and has changed it's start, as he announced yesterday his absence from Strade Bianche. Jumbo-Visma have justified why that was the case.
“Because Wout was still riding the Cyclo-cross World Championships, the planning was already tight anyway,” team DS Merijn Zeeman told Het Nieuwsblad. “Nothing was really allowed to intervene to be able to start the road season with a good basis and that has happened. Nothing major, but he did miss several days of training. As a result, our choice was quickly made.”
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The Belgian rode since early December a packed calendar off-road, building towards the Cyclocross Worlds in Hoogerheide. Right after his second place there, he took some days off and travelled to Mount Teide where he's been at for several weeks in an altitude camp, but illness has delayed the team's plans.
“We want to have the best possible Wout and he still needs some key training for that. Now he will stay in Tenerife for three weeks and we believe in that approach," Zeeman argues. "Wout's goals are mainly from San Remo [onward]. Which does not mean that we do not want to win the Strade Bianche, but we are now going for that with other riders, such as Tiesj Benoot, who is clearly doing well.”
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Hence, van Aert will start his season two days later at Tireno-Adriatico, where he will build his form further ahead of Milano-Sanremo, Tour des Flandres and Paris-Roubaix where he will aim towards victory.
Nevertheless despite his absence, Jumbo-Visma absolutely dominated the competition at the Opening Weekend, as Dylan van Baarle won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, whilst Tiesj Benoot and Nathan van Hooydonck have finished first and second at Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne. Christophe Laporte has also been showing tremendous form, which will be boosted by van Aert in late March.
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- I had no idea about that either.
santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
- Me too!!!!!Occam10-11-2026
- they can sign any 100 of top riders today but Pogi will win over Remco any time at the TDF unless something goes wrongabstractengineer10-11-2026
- the time for a GC rider to retire is when they cannot win stages, or have a significant level drop like from winner/podium into top 5/10 consistently. Roglic is still competitive and Froome raced even though he became pack fodder.abstractengineer10-11-2026
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