Cycling: Van Aert makes a decision for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix

Last winter, Wout Van Aert had profoundly modified his strategy with a view to his two major objectives, namely the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, opting for a slower rise in form in order to arrive with maximum freshness at the beginning of April. A priori, everything suggests that he will renew this strategic option. Explanation.

Last winter, Wout Van Aertaccompanied in this by the staff of the Visma-Lease A Bikehad decided to modify his strategy in view of the great Flandrian classics, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, which he has not yet won to this day, always dominated by those stronger than him, starting with his great rival Mathieu Van der Poel. Noting that he often arrived a little late at the hour, Van Aert had opted for a lighter program at the start of the season, and above all a much less dense cyclo-cross campaign and during which he had no ambitions.

Van Aert remains in the idea of ​​a more gradual rise in form

If in the end, the Belgian was not able to validate this strategic option last year, due to his heavy fall in Gent-Wevelgem, he seems decided to repeat the experience in 2025. In any case, that is what we can deduce from his choice not to resume cyclo-cross competition until the end of December, as Jan Bovenmember of the staff of the Visma-Lease A Bikeannounced it at the end of last week, in comments relayed by cyclismactu.net : « Wout is now heading to Spain for two and a half weeks to train. After that we will see together, but it will only resume after the Visma team training camp which ends on December 19 ».

It even resumes ten days later than last year

Last year, Van Aert resumed on December 9. He therefore starts his season again 10 days later, which tends to confirm that the option of a very gradual increase in form was once again chosen by the staff of the Dutch team, even if Jan Boven claimed that he could have resumed on December 9 as well: “ This period was also an option for this year, but then there are only the World Cup rounds in Dublin (December 1) and Sardinia (December 8). These are long trips for a recovery race ».