Wout van Aert: "I am completely fit and healthy to race again"

Wout van Aert has recovered and will be at the start line of Paris-Roubaix as one of the biggest wildcards. Jumbo-Visma are ambitioning a win, and despite recent circumstances van Aert can't be discarded as a possible winner.

"Fortunately, I am doing well again. I am completely fit and healthy to race again. I am very happy that I can still race Roubaix. As I am used to from the team, the monitoring has been of the highest level in recent days, every day we listened to my gut in the first place. That's the most important," van Aert said in a pre-race interview.

The previous day, his presence at Paris-Roubaix was confirmed. The Belgian national champion had caught Covid-19 days before the Tour des Flandres, but due to the French classic's delay this year, he is able to be at the start in Compiègne this Sunday.

He's detailed his experience with Covid, which came in a very unfortunate time as he was set to be the main favourite for Flandres: "I've never had a fever, it was more like the symptoms of a cold. The fatigue has been there for a long time. It only got better a few days ago. You are also used to training 365 days a year and throwing yourself. If you suddenly have to put on the brakes for 5-6 days, it takes a while to find an acceptable feeling again. I am also sure that I do not have the level of before the Tour of Flanders."

Nevertheless, he is still starting Roubaix as a top favourite. Some riders have been infected with Covid-19 but came back at their very best level, Tadej Pogacar being a good example back in February. This will be a race where tactics and team power will be very important, and van Aert is a big card to play no matter what level of form he's having.

He's been in Spain for some days trying to prime his form as much as possible the days before the team went on to do a recon, and has added: "I've responded well to the more intense workouts of the past few days, but you can't just recover everything you wiped off during inactivity. I'll be a little less, but it's hard to say how much less... Normally I am the real leader. I especially hope that I can get somewhere in the final and then be supportive of Christophe (Laporte), Nathan (Van Hooydonck) or Mike (Teunissen)."

"Obviously I hope not to have to lead the way from the start, because I feel so bad. It is also a course that you can never predict. Even in a supporting role, many guys have already gone far," he added.

"I also thought at the time: even if it is not in top shape, I would like to make something of this spring. Of course I have already had a good season, with a few nice victories. That eases the pain somewhat," van Aert said regarding the feeling of having missed Flandres and Amstel Gold Race where he was planning to defend his title.