After a challenging start to the season marked by a fracture sustained in cyclocross and a subsequent illness in late February, Wout van Aert appears to be regaining form at a crucial moment. With Milan-San Remo just a week away, the Visma-Lease a Bike rider is showing encouraging signs of returning to peak condition, a welcome development as he targets a strong performance in the spring classics.
Van Aert’s recent results demonstrate a steady upward trajectory. He finished 10th at Strade Bianche on March 7th, his second race day of the year, and followed that with a fifth-place finish on stage 4 of Tirreno-Adriatico. Most recently, he launched a spirited attack before the final climb on Saturday’s stage, finishing 21st but more importantly, reporting improved sensations.
“There have been a few stages where I could do my thing,” Van Aert said, according to Sporza. “I was close to victory. In terms of how it felt, I’m satisfied.” He added, “It was another tough stage, but I felt a lot better than yesterday.” This positive feedback is bolstering confidence for both Van Aert and his team as they approach the most important races of the season.
For Van Aert, a victory in a major classic like the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix would represent a significant achievement, adding to a palmarès already highlighted by ten Tour de France stage wins, including a dramatic victory in 2022 where he outpaced the peloton near the finish of stage 4, and the points jersey in the same year. He also played a key role in Jonas Vingegaard’s Tour de France successes, notably on the Hautacam stage.
However, despite his Tour de France dominance – surpassing even Mathieu van der Poel, who has only two Tour stage wins to his name – Van Aert’s record in the one-day monuments remains relatively sparse. His sole monument victory came at the 2020 Milan-San Remo. While he has also secured wins at Strade Bianche and Amstel Gold, a triumph in Flanders or Roubaix would be a landmark achievement.
Tirreno-Adriatico: A Key Preparatory Race
Tirreno-Adriatico is serving as a vital preparation ground for Van Aert, not only for his own ambitions but also to support teammate Matteo Jorgenson, currently sitting third overall in the race. While a stage win would be a welcome bonus, the primary focus remains on building form for the upcoming classics. “It is challenging to simulate this in training. Here the pace is set by someone and you have to respond to attacks,” Van Aert explained.
Sunday’s final stage to San Benedetto del Tronto, expected to favor pure sprinters, presents a different challenge. However, Van Aert remains optimistic. “Patience is a beautiful virtue,” he stated, signaling a long-term approach to peak performance.
Jorgenson’s Strong Showing and Team Momentum
Visma-Lease a Bike is demonstrating growing momentum, with Jorgenson riding strongly and Jonas Vingegaard dominating Paris-Nice. Jorgenson’s ambitions for the overall classification at Tirreno-Adriatico were thwarted by Isaac Del Toro, who gained three seconds on the American in the final kilometer. A crucial two-second time bonus was then snatched by Tobias Johannessen, ultimately costing Jorgenson a potential move into second place overall by a mere one second.
“It went pretty well today,” Jorgenson said. “We started the day with the ambition of aiming for the overall classification. I thought it was smartest to attack on the final climb, especially with the strong headwind in the last ten kilometer. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the legs I had yesterday, but Isaac was simply the strongest. I’m grateful for the team’s support and happy to finish on the podium.”
Both Van Aert and Jorgenson are now setting their sights on Milan-San Remo, where they will face formidable competition from favorites like Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar. However, with the team’s fortunes on the rise, they are poised to play a significant role in the race.
As the classics season unfolds, Wout van Aert’s progress will be closely watched. His recent performances suggest he is steadily building towards his peak, and with a renewed focus on the Italian and Belgian classics, he is determined to add to his impressive palmarès. The coming weeks will reveal whether he can translate this momentum into a coveted monument victory.
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