Wout van Aert looks to defend E3 Saxo Classic: "Let's hope today will be as beautiful as last year"

Wout van Aert has won the 2022 E3 Saxo Classic as Jumbo-Visma obliterated the competition and saw him and Christophe Laporte arrive at the finish alone. In 2023 the Belgian would expect the same, but it'll be a very different challenge with the presence of Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel this time around.

“It will be a tough race, so I will have to pay attention from the start. I think the weather will set the course. This course lends itself to a long and tough final," van Aert said at the start this morning. He sets off as a big favourite for the race win, after finishing third at Milano-Sanremo. As he eyes the cobbled monuments his form is coming into place at the ideal time.

Jumbo-Visma departed the very windy and rainy day in Flandres with Laporte, as well as Opening Weekend winners Dylan van Baarle and Tiesj Benoot, as well as Nathan van Hooydonck. The strategy will surely be of using their depth to the best result, and that would mean attacking the race very early on.

“I experienced a super nice race here last year and cherish great memories of Harelbeke. Let's hope today will be as beautiful as last year. Our team is so strong that we don't have to adapt our plan to others," van Aert concluded.