Wout van Aert set to spring a surprise? Visma refuse to rule out last-minute E3 Saxo Classic call-up

Wout van Aert’s spring schedule looked settled. After fighting back from a crash to finish third at Milano-Sanremo, the focus was expected to shift firmly towards recovery and preparation for the cobbled Monuments. Now, that plan may not be as fixed as it once seemed.

According to HLN, it is “not yet 100% certain” that Van Aert will skip the E3 Saxo Classic, leaving the door open to a late addition to his race programme. A final decision is expected on Wednesday morning.

Van Aert’s ride in Sanremo was already shaping the narrative heading into the Classics. After hitting the deck with around 34 kilometres to go, he was forced onto the back foot, chasing back into contention before launching a late move to secure third place. It was a performance built on resilience as much as form, and one that underlined his growing condition ahead of the key targets of the spring.

The original plan reflected that trajectory. Rather than race E3 Saxo Classic, Van Aert was scheduled to complete a focused training block, prioritising preparation for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix over additional race days.

Skipping E3 would allow for two extra training days, a deliberate choice by his coach following a similar tapering approach used before Milano-Sanremo.

However, circumstances within the team have forced a broader reassessment.

Matthew Brennan’s absence from Milano-Sanremo due to illness has disrupted Visma’s planning for the coming weeks. The young British rider had been expected to feature prominently in the upcoming races, including Gent-Wevelgem and Dwars door Vlaanderen, but his condition has introduced uncertainty. As a result, the team is now reworking its options across the entire squad.

That includes weighing up whether to add races or training blocks in the short term, depending on rider availability and condition. Within that process, Van Aert has emerged as a potential piece of the puzzle, even if only on the margins.

Despite the speculation, sources suggest that any change to Van Aert’s programme remains unlikely. His schedule has been mapped out for months, and his strong result in Sanremo has not altered the underlying approach.

External factors may also play a role. Forecasts for E3 Saxo Classic point towards cold and wet conditions, a scenario that carries clear risks at this stage of the season.

Last year, similar weather saw Mathieu van der Poel struggle with the cold before falling ill in the lead-up to the Tour of Flanders, an outcome Van Aert and his team will be keen to avoid. Even so, the fact that Visma have not ruled out his participation entirely keeps the possibility alive.

For now, the expectation remains that Van Aert will stick to his planned path. But until that decision is confirmed, the chance of a late change continues to hover in the background.