31/03/2023

Wout van Aert admits pressure ahead of Sunday: "The Tour of Flanders is the biggest race of the year for me"

The Tour des Flandres is the big goal of many riders throughout the season. The Belgian monument is the big climax of the Flandrien classics and sees the culmination of months of preparation. Wout van Aert starts as a big favourite and admits he feels the pressure to perform.

“The Tour of Flanders is the biggest race of the year for me. It was good for my confidence to win in Harelbeke (E3 Saxo Classic, ed.). Van der Poel and Pogačar were super strong that day and probably stronger than me," van Aert shared in a press conference ahead of Flanders. "Luckily I was able to catch on. It was a good lesson that I can win even if I am not the strongest.”

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After starting his season late only at Tirreno-Adriatico, the Belgian managed to get up to form quite well. He rode to third place at Milano-Sanremo pointing towards his best form, but has only shown better legs in the week that followed. He matched and then outsprinted Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar at the E3 Saxo Classic.

In their absence, he attacked Gent-Wevelgem and crossed the line together with teammate Christophe Laporte to take the win. Jumbo-Visma will also have Tiesj Benoot and Nathan van Hooydonck as outsiders for the race, but two that will give the Dutch team a lot of options to attack.

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“Of course I want to win this race myself someday. I always try to explain how much I need this team for that. If I can be the lucky one on Sunday, I will thank all the teammates because everyone gave their all. It's a story of give and take. I will do the same for them if necessary," van Aert shared.

His build up towards the cobbled monument has been close to ideal. His form has been improving throughout the month of March, and with the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix about to start, he looks to be in a position to take big wins. “I recover much better, I can feel it in the way I ride. It would be good if I could take the last small step forward in the last few days," he concluded.