"Some things have come to light, but no cause for concern"; Visma | LaB analyzed E3 setback for Van Aert and co

Visma | Lease a Bike suffered in the E3 Saxo Classic on Friday, but they took firm control in Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday. "We were doing very well in the race. We came through De Moeren reasonably well, and then we pushed hard ourselves, with several men in the first large echelon. Victor Campenaerts then moved to the front, and Olav Kooij did well on the plug streets."

So much for everything that went well: Kooij crashed, and the realistic chances of winning disappeared. "He was able to follow Mads closely but missed a corner. That caused him to lose his grip on the gravel, and he crashed. Very disappointing," the sports director concludes. "He just slipped in that corner. It's just the way it is. Unfortunately, our race was over then because Lidl-Trek played it well and had a strong Pedersen."

"If he hadn't crashed there, and I know that doesn't count, I think Pedersen would have ridden him forward into a seat. Victor would have been there, and Kooij could have gone the distance," said Van Dongen, who refused to point to the course. "We know it has gravel, so we shouldn't be too critical of it afterward. It went perfectly for us. It's a shame because we lost an important man for the upcoming races. Kooij broke his collarbone and is out for Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday."

After the opening weekend, the conclusion was that Visma | Lease a Bike lacked the strength to perform when it mattered. Still, after combining the E3 Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem races, a more moderate analysis follows. "We didn't have much bad luck on Friday. We came up short at the important and decisive moments; we must be clear and honest about that. Bad luck has hit us, as shown by how Van Dongen analyzes the situation, adding a 'but' to his statement. 'We didn't achieve the results we wanted to achieve. I said that last Friday, but it also applies now after Gent-Wevelgem."

Riders such as Tiesj Benoot and Matteo Jorgenson also dropped back from the background. "They didn't get away on the Kemmelberg either, but Matteo has shown several times that he is in good shape." The American was added to the start list at the last minute. "Loe van Belle was on the list. He got ill. He called me fifteen minutes after the finish of Harelbeke, so I thought to myself: if he calls me now... that's why a spot opened up."

In Belgium, it was suggested that Van Aert should also have started in Gent-Wevelgem, but that was never even considered by Visma | Lease a Bike. "Matteo had planned a long training session and will end his spring with the Tour of Flanders. It's different with Wout, who has only just started his block. So it wasn't a difficult choice. We are sticking to the plan we have with Wout."

According to the sports director, the team has already analyzed the E3 Saxo Classic, in which Van Aert was a relative disappointment. "A few things came up, but no cause for concern. As for Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Tour of Flanders, we would have liked to have had Olav with us on Wednesday, but Wout and Matteo will be the leaders. And I am glad that Per Strand Hagenes is coming back to Belgium. He was not fit either, but he has recovered sufficiently."

All in all, they are not too worried at Visma | Lease a Bike. "If you see how much bad luck Wout had last year and how he had to recover after a dramatic season. We must also not forget that we have already had twelve victories with young guys like Matthew Brennan and Ben Tulett. And we win races like the Algarve and Paris-Nice to build on that," concludes Van Dongen.