Wout van Aert wins immediately on his return after historic Paris-Roubaix victory

Van Aert had downplayed his chances before the start in Valkenburg. The gravel race in South Limburg was his first appearance since Paris-Roubaix, and he insisted that he had not specifically prepared for the event.

“I haven’t prepared for this at all over the past month,” Van Aert said before the start to HLN. “But as a WorldTour rider, you don’t often get the chance to do something just for fun. In all the gravel races I’ve done, I’ve really enjoyed myself, and that is what I want to do again today.”

Once the race got going, however, Van Aert was quickly among the strongest riders. With around 60 kilometres to go, he was part of a leading group that also included gravel world champion Florian Vermeersch, Pascal Eenkhoorn, Jonathan Vervenne, Niels Vandeputte, Rick Ottema and Georg Egger.

Van Aert briefly tested his rivals before the final, opening a gap before allowing the group to return. He even had enough margin at one point to stop for a toilet break, something he later admitted had been necessary.

“I really had to go,” he said after the finish. “On the road that is easier than here. Everyone will admit that it is hard to focus on anything else when you really need to go.”

Despite the unusual interruption, Van Aert remained in control. The decisive move came with just over 20 kilometres to go, on one of the steeper gravel sections through the woods. Vermeersch was well placed when Van Aert accelerated, but even the world champion had no answer.

“I felt I had something in the legs, so I waited for a hard moment in the race,” Van Aert said. “That turned out to be the right moment to go.”

The gap grew quickly and the race was effectively decided. Behind Van Aert, the chasers were left to battle for the remaining podium places. Vandeputte finished second, while Ottema completed the podium after a strong ride.

After the finish, Van Aert admitted the day had gone better than expected, although he was careful not to make it sound too easy.

“I’m less tired than I was a month ago in Roubaix,” he smiled. “But it was a hard day and although I enjoyed it, I really suffered as well.”

Van Aert also praised the strength of the field, which included gravel world champion Vermeersch.

“One of my goals today was to stay out of trouble. Crashing here was not worth it,” he said. “That is why I immediately kept the pace high, so I didn’t have to take risks. But the field was strong. After an hour and a half, almost nobody had been dropped.”

The victory also earned Van Aert starting rights for both the European and World Gravel Championships. A trip to the Worlds in Australia seems unlikely, especially given his road programme, which resumes at Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the former Critérium du Dauphiné. 

After that, the Belgian Championships, the Tour de France, the Vuelta a España and the World Championships are all on his schedule. The European Gravel Championships in Houffalize later this summer could be a more realistic option.