Wout van Aert: 'It is an advantage that Tadej Pogačar isn't riding the Tour of Flanders'

With Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) currently tearing up the Volta a Catalunya and preparing for a first bid at the Giro d'Italia, the Slovenian will not be riding either this Friday's E3 Saxo Classic or next week's Tour of Flanders.

It is a decision that comes as a disappointment to many fans, but to the delight of some of his rivals, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) included.

"It is an advantage for the entire peloton that Pogačar does not start in the Tour of Flanders, I think," the Belgian happily admitted in a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, attended by Het Laatste Nieuws amongst others.

"He went very hard on the climbs last year. He started it very early, making it one long finale. He wanted to make us as tired as possible from afar. Without him, the course could be different."

Read more: All the key information you need ahead of Wout van Aert vs Mathieu van der Poel at the E3 Saxo Classic

It is little surprise that Van Aert is happy to see the back of Pogačar in the cobbled Classics - for now at least - after all, the Slovenian tore the Tour of Flanders to shreds last year and had threatened this very possibility at the E3 Saxo Classic just a week earlier.

At the race known as the mini-Tour of Flanders, Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) had been able to distance the Belgian as the final 20km came into view, but on that occasion, Van Aert had been able to rescue the situation and win the eventual sprint.

Such a reprieve would not be found at the Tour of Flanders, where Pogačar went solo, followed by Van der Poel, and Van Aert was forced to settle for fourth from a group over a minute down. The result ensured that the Tour of Flanders remains missing from the 29-year-old's illustrious palmarès.

"I've worked hard to win the Ronde and Paris-Roubaix," he said. "It gives me energy to go for it. I think I can win them, so it's a super big goal to add them to my palmarès. But in recent years I have often missed it.

"However, that doesn't change much outside of criticism. I have to do it for myself, not to prove someone wrong."

As for Van der Poel, the Dutchman's performance at Milan-San Remo did not escape the attention of Van Aert, who will line up against his old rival for the first time this season at the E3 Saxo Classic on Friday.

"I have only seen Mathieu in Milan-Sanremo. He looked very strong. I expect him to be present in the Flemish races. In the E3 Saxo Classic, it will immediately become clear what the numbers are."

Read more: Mathieu van der Poel: We can be really proud that we won San Remo twice with the team

A less intense calendar gives Van Aert peace of mind

The Belgian's comments hint at the pressure that has steadily mounted on his shoulders over recent years to find greater success in the one-day Classics. Van Aert has enjoyed a wonderful career on the road to date, but were he to retire having 'only' won Milan-San Remo out of the five Monuments, there would certainly be a sense of promise unfulfilled - such is his talent.

For the first time since the Covid-altered 2020 campaign, Van Aert has skipped riding Milan-San Remo and one of Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico in the early months of the season. Instead, the Belgian is at the end of a three-week altitude camp in Tenerife.

© Getty Images

Wout van Aert has not raced since winning Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne on 'opening weekend'

Van Aert reflects that the more lowkey racing schedule - Volta ao Algarve bringing with it fewer eyeballs than Tirreno-Adriatico, for example - has alleviated a sense of pressure heading into this spring Classics campaign.

"I've been feeling less busy all year round than in the past. It is always a challenge to deal with it. In 2023 I felt for the first time that it was less than the year before. That has given me some insights, that I should not do it for anyone other than myself. That gives me peace."

Three weeks at altitude will certainly do his form on the bike no harm, either.

"If you ride the opening weekend and then Tirreno-Adriatico or Paris-Nice and Milan-San Remo, you are always focused on the next course and you are constantly adjusting the training sessions between the courses. Now I've just been able to finish my scheduled workouts in peace.

"Everything went super well in training, that gives confidence," he added. The past has shown that I always come good from altitude. That's why we dared to do this."

Shortly returning to Belgium from Tenerife, Van Aert will be without teammate Christophe Laporte at the E3 Saxo Classic - the Frenchman is suffering from illness - but with a strong team at his side, the Belgian will remain a joint-favourite alongside Van der Poel.

Read more: The contenders for the 2024 E3 Saxo Classic

All being well, the two will line up at the Tour of Flanders next week and in the absence of Pogačar, they will be the outstanding candidates once again. This Friday's E3 Saxo Classic will give the first indication as to who may have the advantage on the cobbles of Belgium.

"It is a very nice race, the toughest in Flanders after the Tour of Flanders. The final often starts from a distance. Due to the difficult course, which is close to De Ronde, it is a good test."

For the latest news, interviews and analysis from the world of professional cycling, be sure to check out the Racing tab on the GCN website and visit our essential guide to the spring classics to stay up to date with all of the action from cycling's most exciting season.