Wout van Aert and Tim Wellens to test off-road form at Monday's Clásica Jaén

Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) has run second and third in Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior’s previous two editions
Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) has run second and third in Clasica Jaen Paraiso Interior’s previous two editions (Image credit: Getty Images)

12 months after Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates) blazed his way to a spectacular solo victory in his first-ever participation in the Clásica Jaén Paraiso Interior, whether Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease A Bike) can have a similarly stunning debut in Spain’s top mixed-surface challenge is just one of several leading questions to be resolved this Monday.

Van Aert’s first 2024 race outing took place in the much more straightforward Clásica de Almería on Sunday, where he led out teammate Olav Kooij for their team's opening victory of the new season.

Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.

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