"Win Flanders and/or Roubaix focus on stage victories in the Tour" - Wout van Aert reveals his targets for 2023

Despite a brilliant 2022 season, Wout van Aert failed to achieve two of his biggest goals, victories at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. This is something the Belgian hopes to rectify in 2023. "Win Flanders and/or Roubaix, focus on stage victories in the Tour."

Having to miss the Tour of Flanders due to a positive corona test, van Aert finished 2nd behind Dylan van Baarle in Paris-Roubaix. "I want to win the Ronde and/or Roubaix", he told Sporza. "That goal has not changed. These are high, but also logical ambitions. And I am extra motivated after what happened this year."

With van Baarle having gone under the radar for many before victory at Paris-Roubaix, van Aert believes he's now finally getting the credit he deserves. "For the outside world, a lot may have changed after he won Paris-Roubaix," he says of the Dutchman. "But for me that was confirmation of how strong he is."

In 2023, both van Baarle and van Aert will be teammates. A dual-pronged Jumbo-Visma attack that is sure to send shivers down the spines of the rest of the peloton. "It's just how you look at it. I already know that you need a strong team and with Dylan we will be even stronger."

With arguably van Aert's most impressive performance of 2022 coming at the Tour de France, the Belgian believes a change in tactic is required for more success in 2023. Winning the green jersey earlier this year, van Aert is now hoping to focus more on stage wins.

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