Wout van Aert changes spring schedule - No Gent-Wevelgem ahead of Tour of Flanders

Wout van Aert won Gent-Wevelgem in 2021 and assisted Christophe Laporte to victory in 2023. A race very well suited to the Belgian, but it will not be part of his plans for this upcoming spring as he changes his plans ahead of the Tour of Flanders.

After a strong start to the season, the Belgian has already won Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne and finished third on Omloop Het Nieuwsblad where he contributed for the team's success. He has skipped the March stage-racing scene in order to do an altitude camp in Tenerife with several teammates and returns to competition at the E3 Saxo Classic. But two days after, he will not be at the start of Gent Wevelgem.

The team will prioritize their efforts on the chances of reigning champion Christophe Laporte but also Olav Kooij. The duo will already lead the team at Milano-Sanremo, and more responsibility is being layed on the Dutchman.

Van Aert in the meantime races E3 but should also take part at Dwars door Vlaanderen before racing the Ronde. He looks to contest Mathieu van der Poel and Mads Pedersen as he seeks his first cobbled monument.