Little understanding for Van Aert’s race program choice: "I think you should always do San Remo, Flanders, and Roubaix"

With a silver medal at the Cyclo-cross World Championships in Liévin, France, Wout van Aert wrapped up his short cyclo-cross season. He won two of the six races he entered, but despite previously expressing disappointment about not racing more, the Belgian had a clear reason for his limited schedule: to perform in the spring and peak during the Holy Week of Classics.

Last year turned into a nightmare season for Van Aert. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider put everything into winning the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix, but his dream was shattered before he even made it to the start of either Monument. Just four days before De Ronde, Van Aert suffered a horrific crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen, forcing him into months of rehabilitation.

When he finally returned to top form during the Tour de France, where he finished on the podium three times, his focus shifted toward the Olympics and the Vuelta a España. In Paris, he won bronze in the time trial, while his teammate Remco Evenepoel took gold in the road race. Van Aert then reached an incredible level in the Vuelta, claiming three stage wins and wearing both the points and mountain jerseys. But after yet another hard crash, his incredible run came to an abrupt end.

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In 2023, Van Aert won the E3 Saxo Classic

Van Aert has already won Milan-San Remo and Strade Bianche—but is skipping them (again)

This year presents another opportunity for the multiple Tour de France stage winner. Van Aert is once again fully focused on the Holy Week of Classics, which means he will skip Milan-San Remo. Instead, his schedule includes Clásica Jaén (February 17) and the Volta ao Algarve (starting February 19), before racing the Opening Weekend, E3, Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix. Just like in 2024, he will also skip Strade Bianche.

Former Milan-San Remo winner Filippo Pozzato is disappointed by this decision, as he told Bici.pro: “Of course, I’m disappointed not to see him there, in a race that suits him so well. Maybe it’s a bit of a gamble, but I understand his choice to skip it so he can train better for the second part of the spring.” Van Aert won Milan-San Remo and Strade Bianche in 2020, so he has already checked those races off his list.

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Van Aert won Strade Bianche in 2020, in the Piazza del Campo in Siena

Van Aert can also beat Pogacar and Van der Poel

“To be honest, I’ve always thought the Tour of Flanders is the perfect race for Van Aert,” Pozzato continued, believing that Van Aert can compete against Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel. “If he’s in top shape, I think he can absolutely fight for victory. Of course, those two are phenomenal, but if they don’t want to face him in a sprint, they’ll have to drop him before the finish. I believe Wout has the strongest engine of the three.”

But whether Van Aert can actually defeat his biggest rivals remains to be seen. Pozzato is certainly impressed by today’s generation of riders. “I don’t understand how they manage to go so fast. It really makes you realize the difference between my era of racing and what’s happening now. I don’t get how they train at such intensity without the adrenaline of racing. You have to stay fully focused all the time, and that’s why I think it’s mentally even tougher now.”

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Pozatto wants Van Aert to win in Paris-Roubaix

Support from Italy for Van Aert

Although Filippo Pozzato is disappointed that Van Aert is skipping the first Monument of 2025, he fully supports the Belgian. "I believe you should always race Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix, but if it’s a strategic decision, I understand. I don’t think I have enough knowledge to judge modern training methods—everything is different now."

That’s why the Italian is more than happy to cheer on the Visma | Lease a Bike rider in the races he does choose to compete in. "Honestly, I wanted to see him last year too, because he was riding incredibly well before his crash. But as a fan of Van Aert and cycling, I really hope he finally fulfills his big dream and wins one of the cobbled classics."

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