Van Aert expected to skip E3 Saxo Classic after Sanremo podium
The Belgian has plenty to build upon after a strong showing at La Primavera, though it appears unlikely that he will star in the Flemish Classic, which he has won twice previously.
Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) is expected to skip the E3 Saxo Classic on March 27 following his third-place finish at Milan-Sanremo behind Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5).
After a fine performance at Milan-Sanremo that saw the Belgian finish on the podium of a Monument for the first time since 2023 at Paris-Roubaix, it’s clear that Van Aert’s recovery from his fractured ankle in January is going well.
Van Aert, a two-time winner of the race, is expected to forego participating in the race for the first time since 2020, according to sources from Het Laatste Nieuws and the Belgian’s comments after Milan-Sanremo seem to back that up.
“The E3 Saxo Classic? A beautiful race, which I have already won twice and where I enjoy riding, but I have always said that this season we will see week after week what is needed to work towards the Monuments,” Van Aert told the media after the race.
Van Aert’s provisional schedule included Gent-Wevelgem and Dwars door Vlaanderen in the build-up to Flanders and Roubaix, but it appears that his performance in Italy won’t be enough to tempt him and the team into adapting his program.
“I have been tapering very hard for this race over the past week,” said Van Aert in regard to his Classics preparations.
Both Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) are currently slated to ride the 68th edition of the mini-Ronde, with the Dutchman being the two-time defending champion.
Though the final start list is yet to be confirmed, we can always expect a few changes closer to the start.
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