Wout van Aert’s coach says he’s ‘currently good enough to compete, but not to win’
The Belgian star, currently training in Tenerife, has put on a lot of muscle during his cyclocross season

Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert at the 2020 Tour of Flanders (Dirk Waem/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

Wout van Aert’s coach says the Belgian star still has work to do before he can compete for victory in the Classics this year.
The Jumbo-Visma rider is currently on a training camp in Tenerife as he prepares for his road racing debut at Strade Bianche in early March.
Van Aert’s coach Marc Lamberts said the 26-year-old is currently strong enough to compete in the final of one-day races, but not to win, adding that Van Aert has gained a lot of muscle during his cyclocross winter.
Lamberts told Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws: “I had hoped Wout had come to Tenerife with a slightly broader base.
“Wout’s level is good, but we need to improve. He is currently good enough to compete in finals, but not to win.”
Former cyclocross world champion Van Aert travelled to the Canary Island on February 8 and will continue training there until March 1, having finished his cyclocross season at the World Championships in late January.
While Van Aert will miss the Opening Weekend in Belgium later this month, he will start his Classics campaign in Italy with Strade Bianche, before heading to Tirreno-Adriatico and then racing a full spring Classics calendar.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
After Tirreno, Van Aert will race Milan-San Remo, E3 Saxo Bank Classic, Ghent-Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
Then later in the season he will return to France for the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Tour de France, while he is also expected to make his debut in the Tour of Britain later in the season.
But Lamberts says his rider still has work to do if he wants to keep up with the likes of Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck - Quick-Step).
>>> Chris Froome posts final California training ride on Strava as he prepares for season debut
Lamberts added that Van Aert is two kilograms above his race weight, having gained a lot of muscle during his winter racing programme.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
Romain Grégoire descends to take Tour de Suisse opening stage win
The 22 year-old Frenchman attacked the day’s final descent in pouring rain to win from a huge breakaway take the overall lead
-
Tadej Pogačar wins the Critérium du Dauphiné as Lenny Martinez bags the final stage at Plateau du Mont-Cenis
Pogačar lays down a Tour de France marker, comfortably resisting a late attack from Jonas Vignegaard to take the overall honours
-
Wout van Aert rode harder than ever on the Finestre to help deliver Simon Yates to Giro d’Italia victory
Belgian put in 'career best performance' according to Visma-Lease a Bike's head of performance
-
Giro d’Italia stage 10: key rider time trial start times
Race leader Isaac del Toro set to roll down the start ramp at 16:40 local time, Josh Tarling off at 14:36
-
Kaden Groves wins crash-marred Giro d’Italia stage 6 in Naples
Australian comes out on top in bunch sprint after chaotic day in Italy
-
Who could complete the Grand Tour hat-trick at the men’s Giro d’Italia?
Six male riders could become stage winners in all three Grand Tours this month
-
'We did a beautiful race up until 10km to go' - Visma-Lease a Bike pull defeat from the jaws of victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen
With such a difficult second place on Wednesday, could this performance affect confidence ahead of the Tour of Flanders?
-
'I never thought in a million years I would beat Wout in a sprint' - Neilson Powless shocks with improbable Dwars door Vlaanderen win
Visma-Lease a Bike put on a show of force ahead of the Tour of Flanders on Sunday but came away without the victory in Waregem
-
Mathieu van der Poel surges to E3 Saxo Classic victory after dropping Mads Pedersen on the Oude Kwaremont
Dutchman untouchable in West Flanders after distancing Pedersen and Filippo Ganna on decisive climb
-
'I’m left with ambitions I no longer get to chase' - 26-year-old pro cyclist forced to retire over heart issues
Lars van den Berg reveals "worst nightmare" with cardiologists revealing that the risks are "too great"