Wout Van Aert's cautious approach draws admiration from Tom Boonen - "I have a better feeling about winning Flanders and Roubaix"

Having had a delayed start to the season due to his illness, Wout van Aert, who kicked off his season in Tirreno-Adriatico on Monday, has adopted a cautious approach, using it as a week of training instead of aiming for significant accomplishments right from the outset.

Giving an analysis of the race, Tom Boonen says, "I much prefer this to what happened in recent years.” He is of the view that the Dutch rider is moving forward in the correct direction by employing a cautious approach and avoiding any reckless behavior. "A lot is still possible", he told Sporza.

He further added, "It all depends on how you prepare your schedule. Do you already want to score in the Strade and do you want to stretch that to Flanders and Roubaix? Or do you still want to use the Tirreno to dot the i's and cross the i's? That also works."

He anticipates that if van Aert can find his footing in the peloton, winning Flanders and Roubaix will not be a strenuous task. "I prefer to see this. I have a better feeling about winning Flanders and Roubaix than with what happened in recent years. You already knew then that it would be tough for those races," concluded Boonen.