"You’ve been able to train all winter, haven’t you?": Van Avermaet confused as to why Van Aert needs extra training block before Flanders

Wout Van Aert ended up caught up in the crash of Tadej Pogacar at Milano-Sanremo, but drew the shortest straw as the Belgian had to wait for a bike change. That made it impossible for the 31-year-old to follow the world champion's attack on Cipressa, which ultimately meant a third place through a late attack was a maximum possible for Van Aert.

Nevertheless, the Visma | Lease a Bike demonstrated a much better shape than in his first few competitive outings of 2026, showing glimpses of his best version. Naturally, fans would expect Van Aert to continue on a high note at the run-in events of the cobbles campaign; the Gent - Wevelgem and E3 Saxo Classic - both races he has won in the past.

But contrary seems to be the case as his team declared in advance that Van Aert would very likely skip this week's racing, opting to give some final touches to his preparation for the two main events of this spring; the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.

"I won’t have a say in it, but I find that a bit incomprehensible. I think it’s a shame. I like seeing Wout in the E3. It’s such a beautiful race and it’s also a race that suits him," Greg Van Avermaert sighed at the HLN Cycling Podcast about Van Aert's reported absence.

"The reason is apparently that he still has to complete a training block that he hasn’t been able to do yet, since he has just finished a taper week (a week with the necessary rest periods, ed.)," Van Avermaet continues. "Another training block will have to be added this week."

Therefore, in the case that Van Aert indeed needs to do some extra training, that'd leave no room to include E3. "Because the E3 falls on a Friday, the week becomes quite short if you decide to add this race."

However what Van Avermaet finds strange is that Van Aert and Visma had more than enough time to get this work done by now, even with Van Aert's ankle injury taken into account. "But I don’t understand that: you’ve been able to train all winter, haven’t you?"

It is logical that Visma wishes to prioritize the two Monuments over their appetizer events, however it's also giving away a really good opportunity to get a taste of victory before matching up against Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel at the main stage. Even more so since Van Aert could use this confidence boost after a few difficult seasons.

"I wonder if those two training sessions are going to make a big difference in his fitness build-up heading into Flanders and Roubaix.”

It would even appear a good bet with Van Aert's track record at E3 as a two-time winner (2022 and 2023). That's why Van Avermaet doesn't give up hope that Visma would change their plans at "last minute" as many times before when it came to Wout. "I find it particularly regrettable that he will not be at the start. I especially hope that his team will still change their minds, because I do think Wout himself wants to start," concluded the 2016 Rio Olympic champion.