'I am here with more confidence than last week' – Wout van Aert not cowed by setbacks in run-up to Tour of Flanders

American Matteo Jorgenson of Team Visma-Lease a Bike and Belgian Wout van Aert of Team Visma-Lease a Bike pictured during a press conference of the Team Visma-Lease a Bike cycling team ahead of the Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres / Tour of Flanders cycling race, Friday 04 April 2025 in Deerlijk. The 109th edition of the cycling race will take place on Sunday 06 April. BELGA PHOTO KURT DESPLENTER (Photo by KURT DESPLENTER / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Wout van Aert has never been the most exuberant personality in the peloton, but on Friday afternoon, speaking to the press ahead of the Tour of Flanders, the Visma-Lease a Bike rider was perhaps even more reserved and calm than ever.

Just two days after the team's fairly obvious failure in Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Belgian had to face up to reporters who have been critical of him and his team's racing and results for the last week.

Assistant Features Editor

Matilda is an NCTJ-qualified journalist based in the UK who joined Cyclingnews in March 2025. Prior to that, she worked as the Racing News Editor at GCN, and extensively as a freelancer contributing to Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Velo, Rouleur, Escape Collective, Red Bull and more. She has reported from many of the biggest events on the calendar, including the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France Femmes, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. She has particular experience and expertise in women's cycling, and women's sport in general. She is a graduate of modern languages and sports journalism.

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