Wout van Aert has become more 'realistic' after Roubaix, even when it comes to the Tour of Flanders

The rider from the Dutch team is still regularly asked about it. “For the first two or three months, it was practically every day—sometimes even a few times a day. Now it’s a little less frequent. After all, the news value of a sporting event always fades over time.”

"In a way, the cycling season just carries on as usual, and other major races follow. But Roubaix keeps coming up again and again. You notice that people are quick to bring it up. It’s a victory that clearly resonates deeply," said Van Aert.

"Those previous big victories aren't even that far behind us, but back then it felt more like a logical next step in my development as a cyclist. This time, for me and for everyone else, it was much more of a release. The word ‘finally’ comes up a lot. I noticed that in the reactions, too. Apparently, I’ve made a lot of people happy,” he says.

When asked whether relief or joy prevailed, Van Aert was clear. “Joy, definitely. If it had happened a year or two earlier, relief might have been the stronger feeling.

Back then, I felt more strongly that I needed a victory like this for my career to succeed.”

Van Aert now has Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix on his list of victories, but that doesn’t mean he’s satisfied:

“To be honest, I didn’t expect to pull it off this year either. That teaches me that I have to keep trying. There are riders who have better odds, but there are also very few riders who get opportunities like I do. That opportunity could come at any time, and when it does, I have to be ready. The same goes for the Tour of Flanders.”

"At the same time, it’s no coincidence that I succeeded in Roubaix of all places. It’s one of the few classics where I have a more than realistic chance," says the experienced Belgian.

“The Tour of Flanders is getting tougher and tougher, especially with Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel in the field. I have to keep believing in myself, but also be realistic.”

Before Van Aert turns his attention to the spring classics, he’ll be hitting the cyclocross courses. The Belgian has yet to announce his specific schedule, but he has already said that he’ll definitely be racing cyclocross.