Wout van Aert still ambitious for spring Classics alongside Visma | Lease a Bike's rising star

In the past, Team Visma-Lease a Bike focused mainly on the cobbled classics, but the focus is now broader. “Since there are only five Monuments in a year, we must seize every opportunity to win one,” says Head of Racing Grischa Niermann, who counts on riders such as Matteo Jorgenson, Ben Tulett, and Louis Barré for Liège and Lombardy.

That does not mean that the ambitions for the Flemish Spring races have diminished with Van Aert in the team. “Wout has never made a secret of the fact that he dreams of winning Paris-Roubaix or the Tour of Flanders. It would be nice for him — and for us — if he could fulfil that dream.”

Compared with last year, Van Aert will also start again in the Italian Spring races. “With our objective of winning a Monument, it is of course logical that Wout also starts in Milan-San Remo. With him, a former winner, in the race we have an extra card to compete for victory there,” Niermann explains.

“Of course, Monuments like the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, and Milan-San Remo are the most important targets of the season, but all other races I start are meaningful to me,” says winner and racer Van Aert himself.

The Belgian, who is currently recovering from an ankle fracture, hopes to be present from the Opening Weekend. “In the spring, I want to be there from Omloop Het Nieuwsblad through to Roubaix. I want to show myself everywhere and seize every chance that comes my way.”

“In contrast to previous seasons I will once again start in the Italian classics Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo. After my victory in Siena during the last Giro d’Italia, I realised that Strade Bianche, despite the course changes, still suits my strengths. I think Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo are among the most beautiful races of the season, so I definitely don’t want to miss them next year,” Van Aert added.

Van Aert will start in some of those Spring races alongside Matthew Brennan. “Matthew is an important man for the future. He is still young, so we have to be patient with him. If everything goes according to plan, he will ride major races this year like Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and the Vuelta a España. He’s going there mainly to learn — we don’t expect him to go for results straight away,” Niermann remains cautious.

The British rider, who will start at the Tour Down Under, is already looking forward to his season. “It’s great to start in several big classics like Milan-San Remo and the Tour of Flanders, but I’m also looking forward to La Vuelta. Three weeks of stage racing will be tough and I don’t yet know how my body will react, but with good preparation and a strong team I hope to achieve a lot.”

In addition to the Spring, Van Aert and Brennan will also be a pairing in the Vuelta. “I still have unfinished business in the Vuelta. It was a painful exit in 2024, but I am returning there with a lot of motivation. With the team we can certainly achieve something great there,” concludes Van Aert.