'This is a different Wout' - Campenaerts sees sharp Van Aert ahead of Flanders and Roubaix

Campenaerts was a late addition to the lineup after Matthew Brennan fell ill, flying in just a day before the race. He immediately found himself in the middle of the action when Van Aert crashed in the run-up to the Cipressa, a key moment in the race.

“Christophe [Laporte] and I didn’t wait at the foot,” Campenaerts explained in the NOS Wielerpodcast. “First follow and see what happens. When we heard that Matteo and Wout were about ten seconds behind after the descent, I immediately waited for their group and started riding on the front.”

The work paid off, bringing Van Aert back into contention and setting up his late move for third place. “Because of that we were still able to race for a podium,” Campenaerts said.

Just after the crash there was a brief moment where the situation became unpredictable, with several of the main favourites delayed. 

“Of course that goes through your head,” Campenaerts admitted. “I’m there with Christophe and he is a real finisher, someone who could win Milan-Sanremo himself. It’s a bizarre situation when all the top favourites are suddenly gone.”

Even so, there were limits to how far that scenario could be pushed. “You also feel that it’s not done to say we take initiative and make sure those riders don’t come back,” he said.

Not long after, the race fell back into place. Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock moved clear at the front, while Van Aert and Matteo Jorgenson worked their way back after their setbacks, both forced to change bikes.

“Those guys came back and then you immediately know what’s coming, the same scenario as if there hadn’t been a crash,” Campenaerts said about the attack of Pogačar and Van der Poel.

Campenaerts noticed something in Van Aert’s efforts during the chase. “When I saw him riding, it was a different Wout than the one I saw in races last year,” he said. 

“He won fantastic stages in the Giro and the Tour, but this looked different. It looked sharper, there was more form coming off him. Last year it sometimes looked more like he was working for it.”

Campenaerts will not take part in the Classics this year as he did last season, but he will still be watching closely. “I’m really looking forward to following it from the couch,” he said.

Instead, the focus of the 34-year-old Belgian shifts to supporting Jonas Vingegaard as a key lieutenant in the pursuit of his first Giro d’Italia victory and the chance to complete his Grand Tour set.