"We want to have the best possible Wout" - Jumbo-Visma justify Wout van Aert's absence from Strade Bianche

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.”

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.