Powerful performance by Van Aert boosts his confidence: "That was below my expectations"

Wout van Aert is set to head to Tenerife brimming with confidence for an important altitude training camp ahead of the spring's top classics. The rider from Visma | Lease a Bike clinched a convincing victory at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday, having made a bold move well before the finish line.

"It's a very nice win, which feels really good," Van Aert begins in the flash interview. In the sprint, the Belgian outpaced Tim Wellens and Oier Lazkano, with whom he had spent a significant part of the race. "It was a tough race, and I had two very good companions with me. With today's tailwind, I also knew there was a good chance that the strongest would remain after the hill zone."

Before reaching the critical section of the hills, Visma | Lease a Bike took control of the race. The team's high pace and the wind caused the peloton to split. "It was a super hard pace. I just felt it was going to split. For us, it was the logical tactic to make the race as hard as possible," says Van Aert. After the most challenging climb, the eventual winner was left with three men. "That was below my expectations. However, it was ideal for me to control the finale," he mentions as a positive aspect of the situation.

On the Kruisberg, Van Aert accelerated again, causing Laurence Pithie to drop back. In doing so, he eliminated a competitor with a fast sprint. "I think he was also the least strong. At one point, he tried to play it smart by not taking his turns at the front."

Van Aert on altitude training: "Working on the final percentages towards the classics"

Being left with just the three of them was advantageous for Van Aert. "With three people, it's difficult to surprise each other. I was very focused on potential attacks. In that sense, it was a good situation. With ten people, it's much harder to keep an eye on everything. In the end, I had the confidence to respond to the attacks and, of course, in my sprint."

After finishing third in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, where his teammate Jan Tratnik won, and winning in Kuurne, Van Aert can look back on the weekend with more than satisfaction. "I am very pleased with the performances this weekend. It's a great way to start the spring. As a team, we were very strong. My first attempt in Kuurne and winning straight away, I am very happy with that. It's good for my confidence, but this race is different from the classics that are yet to come. It's time to train and work on those final percentages towards the Monuments," Van Aert refers to his upcoming altitude training camp in Tenerife.