Wout van Aert arrived at this Tour of Flanders more serene than ever. The Flemish rider has demonstrated excellent form in recent weeks, but does not want to be labeled as one of the four favorites. "I don't consider myself among the Big Four - Van Aert said yesterday in a press conference - I'm feeling good and I'll try to race my own race".

He doesn't want to be considered as one of the contenders for victory and prefers to leave that role to others. But the Belgian is going strong and this is undeniable and appears anything but nervous.

"If I'm really so relaxed? You should ask those around me, I can hardly say that about myself". Confidence, however, is certainly not lacking. His performances both at In Flanders Fields, where he was the only one to follow Mathieu van der Poel on the Kemmelberg, and at Dwars door Vlaanderen, where he was very strong on the Eikenberg and was only overtaken by Filippo Ganna at the last moment, were such powerful actions that they have raised the Flemish rider in the list of favorites. "I have certainly improved compared to my first participation in 2018. But apart from that, I believe I have always started with good legs. And sometimes I've also started with legs that weren't quite perfect. In any case, I finished the last races with good sensations. I managed to race the way I like: aggressively, with decisive final sprints".

The Belgian is doing well now and it shows, but you must always remember that his preparation has been troubled. First there was the ankle fracture in December, a flu-like illness just before the opening weekend and finally an altitude training camp blocked by snow. "Of course, I had some obstacles in my path, but there was still enough time to reach the ideal level. Perhaps I'm at the peak of my form precisely because of these small setbacks? I would have liked to prove something a bit earlier, for example at Strade Bianche. There are riders who are strong from Strade Bianche all the way through the classics. And at every intermediate stage."

Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel are undoubtedly a step above the rest, but with Remco Evenepoel at the start, the race has become even more special. The participation of the Red Bull - Bora Hansgrohe Belgian adds extra spice to this edition of the Ronde. The news was welcomed with pleasure by Wout van Aert. "He is one of the best classics riders of this generation. And he is someone who, just like me, always races with an open mind. Remco's presence will influence how the race unfolds, but it's difficult to predict in what way".

Could Remco Evenepoel be an ally for Van Aert?
"Evenepoel an ally of mine? That depends on many factors. Who is where, and if we both arrive close to the finish. Perhaps he will be the one to close the gap to Pogacar. But if he is actually an ally, we can only say that after the race. After all, it's still the Tour of Flanders. There will be chaos, things will happen that we can't predict. So it's pointless to predict whether someone will or won't be an ally".

The presence of Pogacar, Van der Poel, Evenepoel and Van Aert at the start of a high-level classic gives the 2026 Tour of Flanders a historic status, because never before had these champions raced together in a Classic. "The fact that the strongest riders in the world are here is no coincidence. This is the Tour of Flanders; this race is always special and no matter how high the stakes are". Van Aert wants above all to enjoy this Flanders and do everything he can to achieve the best result. "Of course, these are stressful weeks, but at the same time it's also the most beautiful time of the year for a cyclist. Now I manage it better than before. I've become a bit older and wiser. I can accept certain aspects of the race more easily. But it still gives me goosebumps. Already yesterday, during the reconnaissance, I felt something special."