Wout van Aert: "Nothing is impossible. That is also the attitude with which I now take up this position in the peloton"

Wout van Aert has shown in 2022 yet again how is quality and versatility have allowed him to take wins in all types of terrain, and in 2023 he is looking to take lessons from past years to be able to perform and specifically focus on specific goals.

“As you know, the Cyclocross World Cup this winter in Hoogerheide is an important goal for me. Had the upcoming Cyclocross World Cup been in the United States again or far away, I would probably have made the same choice as in 2022. Then again I would not have participated," van Aert shared in an interview with Wielerflits. Mathieu van der Poel also missed the race due to back issues, and Tom Pidcock soared to a strong win in Fayetteville back in January.

The cyclocross rainbow jersey will be van Aert's first goal of the season, to be disputed in early February in Hoogerheide. “Then you do indeed wonder why I skipped the Cyclo-cross World Cup and why did I not start in the Strade Bianche. Then I might have already had good results. On the other hand, if I had won one of my big goals for that spring, I would have clearly realized that the key to that success might have been in making these choices," he continued. 

Now in 2023 he will have the Tour des Flandres, Paris-Roubaix, Tour de France and Glasgow World Championships as his main goals. He will be a contender to win other races naturally, but he will focus on specific races. He'll begin his road campaign likely in Strade Bianche in early March, with a block of Italian races before the spring classics.

“Yes, I definitely missed that classic. Just like the Tirreno-Adriatico. I like the Tirreno. Although that also applies to Paris-Nice. Because I am now focusing on the Cyclocross World Cup at the end of January, my preparation towards spring will be different than last season," he continues.

“I also want to look at my future with those eyes. Nothing is impossible. That is also the attitude with which I now take up this position in the peloton. If I hadn't known that mindset, I would probably still be a cyclo-cross rider. It even motivates me to achieve the impossible. Especially when everyone says I couldn't do something. Certainly, I believe I can win classics in these two areas," van Aert claimed.

Van Aert stormed through the opening cobbled classics winning Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the E3 Saxo Bank Classic. He looked in prime form, could be on his way to his first Tour des Flandres win if Covid-19 hadn't hit at an ultimately horrific time. It spoiled his spring, he couldn't win neither Paris-Roubaix or Liège-Bastogne-Liège despite podium results.

“But to say now that this is going to be a goal, that's something else. Last year I might have had the chance to win the Tour of Flanders. But it didn't happen. There's a big difference between being able to win a race and actually winning that classic. But indeed, because I was unable to ride the Tour of Flanders due to corona, I found out that Liège-Bastogne-Liège is also within my reach," he understands.

“Of those five Monuments, I have so far only won Milan-San Remo. If you think realistically, it would be stupid to dream of winning all five Monuments with only one victory in your pocket. Let alone make it a goal," he said. This comes in relative contradiction to his recent claims that he ambitions to win all five monuments, an achievement available to very few riders, however van Aert could very well be the most suited to it in the current peloton.

“I have never even ridden Il Lombardia. Although this is also a classic that I believe I can handle one day. On the other hand, it is not easy to ride all five Monuments in one year. I'm just focusing on a few of those classics right now. My sights are currently focused on the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix," he concluded.