Bakelants saw consequences of Van Aert’s E3 absence: “He set his own trap”

Van Aert and Van der Poel spent a long time out in front of the peloton, but were ultimately still brought back. Part of that seemed to be down to the fact that the Dutchman was not fully committing in the finale, with Jasper Philipsen still sitting in the chasing group. Bakelants, however, offered another explanation.

“Wout van Aert set his own trap,” said the Belgian. “He made himself vulnerable by not riding the E3 Saxo Classic, which meant he needed a result on Sunday. Van der Poel did not have that same need.”

According to Bakelants, even losing a two-up sprint could have undone what has so far been a flawless build-up for Van der Poel. “By teasing Van der Poel a little and having him sit on half-strength in the wheel, Wout was checkmated. He had to keep riding at 110 per cent, otherwise they were always going to get caught.”

The Belgian analyst believes Alpecin-Premier Tech knowingly accepted the risk that they might not win the race that way. “But in doing so, they were still able to hurt Van Aert one more time,” he concluded. “They happily accepted the tactical opportunity offered to them by Team Van Aert.”

According to the former rider, the fact that Alpecin-Premier Tech are so focused on Van Aert is ultimately a compliment. “It shows they take him seriously as a possible winner.” Still, Bakelants believes Van Aert remains a level below both Tadej Pogačar and Van der Poel. And since this season, he thinks there is another rider just behind that front row as well.

“You can put Florian Vermeersch alongside them at the moment too. He has taken a huge step,” Bakelants said. In his view, Visma | Lease a Bike should even have allowed him back when he was dangling at a small gap. “If he can sit there for that long at fifteen seconds, then alarm bells should start ringing. He was there, ready to be used.”

Bakelants therefore wonders whether Visma | Lease a Bike deliberately chose not to let Vermeersch return. “Vermeersch gets on extremely well with Van der Poel. That is also another consequence of not riding E3. If you see your colleagues every week, you automatically grow closer.” The analyst therefore believes that, if given the choice, Vermeersch would rather see Van der Poel win.

Even so, Bakelants also sees plenty of positives for Van Aert. “We can say it looks good. He has clearly worked well and he cannot be better than he is right now,” he concluded. “He just does not have that extra boost you get from winning an important classic. He can only still find that in Dwars door Vlaanderen 2026.

The Belgian therefore expects his compatriot to be more competitive in the Tour of Flanders 2026 than he was last year. “But whether he can follow every attack, we still do not know.” Bakelants even suggests that the level Van Aert is showing now may be his maximum. “Whatever happens, he has to be satisfied with the result. If it is fourth place, then it is fourth place. Because in the coming years there may not be much more in it than that. That may simply be his ceiling.”