Van Aert chases dream Roubaix win - 'Determined to seize my last opportunity this spring'

“I still feel a huge drive heading into this race,” said Van Aert, in a Visma | Lease a Bike statement. "It will be my seventh participation, but this race remains special. The nervousness and unpredictability make Paris–Roubaix so beautiful.”

Van Aert has enjoyed a positive spring campaign after he fractured his ankle in January. There were positive indications with his performances at Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico, and the result to back these up followed at Milan-Sanremo, where Van Aert took 3rd.

The Visma rider built upon his solid showings in Italy, putting on a strong display at Gent-Wevelgem alongside Van der Poel before narrowly missing out on victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen, and finishing 4th at the Tour of Flanders.

“Since the Italian races, I’ve been feeling good, and I was able to carry that into the Flemish classics,” explained Van Aert.

Paris-Roubaix removes the element of climbing that exists in the Tour of Flanders, which on paper, should give Van Aert a better opportunity of being closer to Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel, according to Head of Racing Grischa Niermann.

“In the past weeks, it became clear who we’ll have to watch. Pogačar and Van der Poel are without a doubt the top favourites, but on this terrain the differences between riders will be smaller than in recent races,” said Niermann.

The team will hope that the Belgian can lean into the unpredictable nature of the race, having suffered his fair share of bad luck over the years. “Paris–Roubaix is one of those races where luck plays a role,” said Niermann.

The flame of hunger for victory is also still burning strong for Van Aert, with the Belgian acknowledging that Roubaix marks his final opportunity for success this spring. 

Then his attention turns to building ahead of the Tour de France in July, with Jonas Vingegaard looking to complete the Giro-Tour double. “Now I’m determined to seize my last opportunity for a win this spring,” concluded the Belgian.

Van Aert will line up as part of a strong Visma squad that includes Edoardo Affini, Matthew Brennan, Owain Doull, Per Strand Hagenes, Christophe Laporte, and Pietro Mattio. 

"Our strength lies in the collective. Alongside Wout, Christophe Laporte and Per Strand Hagenes can also play important roles in how the race unfolds. Both have already proven in the past that they are strong in the cobbled classics,” said Niermann.

“Winning Roubaix remains a big dream for the team, and we are ready to do everything we can to make that dream come true,” said Niermann.