Van Aert starts his season at the Clásica Jaén Paraiso Interior, and will then move on towards the Volta ao Algarve where he should be a favourite for the overall win. It is an attempt to race a different program, in a year where a lot actually changes in the big picture. He will also return to the Opening Weekend, where he hasn't raced since 2022 - where he won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Neither Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico are in the schedule for the time being, and it will likely remain that way as he should take on a training camp.
"Skipping the Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo was a difficult decision. But it was a necessary choice to be in the best possible shape for the start of the
Tour of Flanders and
Paris-Roubaix. There's a good chance I'll race the Amstel Gold Race after the cobbles. Hopefully I will do so with one or more victories under my belt."
Van Aert headlines a very strong classics team for Team Visma | Lease a Bike. Although the team has lost Nathan van Hooydonck who retired due to heart issues, it signed Matteo Jorgenson who should be just as strong of a replacement in a block that also includes former Paris-Roubaix winner Dylan van Baarle, European Champion
Christophe Laporte and Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne winner Tiesj Benoot.
"For 2024, our classics team is strong again, and our confidence is high. I think the team has become even stronger with the arrival of Matteo Jorgenson and Per Strand Hagenes from the Development Team. However, the retirement of Nathan Van Hooydonck is a loss... Christophe Laporte is also invaluable to me," he adds.. "His qualities are unquestionable. With him we are already a team to be reckoned with. I trust him blindly and we work very well together, as the last few years have shown."