'We have seen a really strong Wout' - Van Aert lays cards on the table at Gent-Wevelgem but falls just short

Van Aert sprang into action on the second ascent of the Kemmelberg, dragging Van der Poel and Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) with him across to the breakaway. The group cooperated well, but things changed on the final ascent of the Kemmelberg when Van der Poel accelerated, and only Van Aert could follow. 

Their advantage over the peloton into the final 30km was over a minute, but there were plenty of resources in the chase behind, and with the run-in tailored to the sprinters, staying out front was always going to be a difficult task for the duo. 

And so it proved to be when they were caught near the flamme rouge, after Alec Segaert (Bahrain-Victorious) had impressively bridged across.  

In the end, Van Aert had to settle for 30th after being swamped by the peloton, but the performance of the Belgian was another indication that he is heading in the right direction ahead of next week's appointment with De Ronde. 

"It was somewhat inevitable in the finale, because the peloton was closing in quickly,” Van Aert told media, including Domestique, after the finish. “The feeling was good. I was able to follow Mathieu [van der Poel] on the final ascent of Kemmel[berg]. I thought we had a good chance of staying ahead, but we just didn't quite make it."

Van Aert explained how Van der Poel had the advantage of Jasper Philipsen being in the peloton, as the Belgian was one of the riders most likely to win in the event of a sprint, and so it proved to be. This allowed Van der Poel to hold some of his cards back, according to Van Aert.

"The cooperation with Mathieu [van der Poel] was good, but he had the luxury of [Jasper] Philipsen still being behind him, which allowed him to race a bit more defensively at the end. That worked against me and made the difference."

Van der Poel himself, after the finish, also confirmed that he was able to play the finale more defensively with the knowledge that Philipsen was behind and ready to sprint. 

Despite falling just short, it’s another step in the right direction for Van Aert following his Sanremo podium, as the Belgian builds towards another tilt at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, two races he deeply desires. 

"I am satisfied with how I was able to race. The result didn't follow, but it was still a nice day,” concluded Van Aert.

Visma still managed to come away with a podium as Christophe Laporte (Visma | Lease a Bike), winner in 2023, sprinted to 3rd behind Philipsen and Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM).

“I didn’t expect that we would come back to Wout and Mathieu, but the group was quite big, and a lot of guys from Decathlon and Bora were there, so it’s hard to stay out front with six guys pulling full gas,” said Laporte.

The former European champion also expressed faith in his Belgian teammate Van Aert based on his performance for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix to come. 

“I think we have seen a really strong Wout today, and it gives us good feelings for the coming races,” said Laporte.