A few days later, the Olympic Games will be held in Paris, then it's time for the home stretch. The Clasica San Sebastian will be a repeat of the Vuelta. And to end the year in style, the peloton will travel to Zurich for the World Championships, before the Tour of Lombardy as the last monument of the season.
The Belgians in the peloton will therefore have a very busy schedule. Overview.
The Wout Van Aert mystery
He who wishes to break bad luck could not count on his spring to finally win a second Monument. The fault of a “beast” fall caused 67 km from the finish on Across Flanders. Van Aert dreamed so much of joining the battle of the giants against Mathieu van der Poel, but the Belgian had to skip the rest of the classics.
Recovering from his broken collarbone and ribs, the Visma | Lease a Bike has already resumed training.
What will happen for the rest of his season? He had to compete in the Giro for the first time, in order to arrive in top shape for the Olympics, certainly his biggest goal of the season. The Tour de France could serve as an alternative, but the fatigue accumulated a few days before Paris could be detrimental. Unless he decides to leave the Tour before the end, as several riders in the peloton will certainly do…
Problem is, the Grande Boucle did not necessarily attract him at the start of the season. His injury, and that of boss Vingegaard, could turn everything upside down. Visma could then turn into a stage chaser with Van Aert in almost full possession of his means, and without a real leader in the group. A drastic change of objective, but not impossible.
He could then participate in the Tour de Suisse or the Dauphiné. These one-week stage races would then be ideal preparations for Paris, without tiring too much but with ideal routes.
Without forgetting Zurich at the end of September, where Van Aert has been racing behind the iridescent jersey for many years…
Remco, podium goal
For Remco, the uncertainty is much less than Wout. During the Tour of the Basque Country, he was also the victim of a serious fall, taking Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and Stef Cras with him.
Fortunately, Remco is fine. A week ago, he gave his news in his team's podcast. “I have already done exercises with the physiotherapist, to keep the muscles alert. I also did roller skating and I hope to ride on the road early next week.” he reassured.
If he was unable to compete in Liège-Bastogne-Liège to win a third victory in a row, the big objective of his spring, he should nevertheless soon find his way back to the race. With an unchanged program. An internship in the Spanish mountains, then a participation in the Dauphiné before starting the first Tour de France of his young career.
At the end of the season, he should be content with the world championships in Zurich, where he will form a pair of leaders with Wout van Aert. The Tour of Lombardy could also be included in his program.
Arnaud from “Lyme”
He was promised to play the strong man in a large part of this spring's classics, but it ended up being otherwise. Lyme disease is to blame. Arnaud de Lie had to take a break with the discovery of this one, after an anonymous 90th place on Ghent-Wevelgem.
However, the Bull of Lescheret is doing better. The latest exams are reassuring, he will resume racing on Sunday with the Famenne Ardennes Classic. He will then head to the west of France with the Grand Prix du Morbihan (Saturday May 4, where he is the defending champion) and the next day, at Tro Bro Leon.
Why Arnaud De Lie will resume well on Sunday at the Lotto Famenne Ardenne Classic
The main question concerns the month of July. If Lotto has already announced his participation in the Tour de France, his illness could play tricks on him, even more so in such an intense event which is spread over three weeks. His presence at the Tour de Suisse and the Belgian championships should already give a taste of his form, he who will be aiming for the sprint stages on the Grande Boucle.
However, no information has leaked about the end of the season. He should not be part of the Belgian team in Paris, where only 4 riders will be there. His presence in Zurich could, however, add an additional chance of victories to the Belgian team.
Jasper Philipsen, green jersey goal
If he has already won several major successes this season (Milan-San Remo, Bruges – La Panne, and second places in the Grand Prix de l'Escaut and Paris-Roubaix), all he is missing is the green jersey of the Tour de France to conclude this season on the same basis as in 2023.
A race should be added to Philipsen's summer program. The Olympic Games will be a major goal for one of the best sprinters in the world, he will form a trio with Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel. It remains to be seen who will be the 4th soldier in the online race.
Unless the situation turns around, he will also be part of the selection for the world championships in Zurich.
The Van Gils revelation
A true new blood in Belgian cycling, Maxim Van Gils amazed the spring with his talent. No victories in 2024, certainly, but almost perfect consistency: 5th at the Faun-Ardèche Classic, 3rd at the Drôme, 3rd at the Strade Bianche, 7 at Milan-San Remo, 2nd at the Grand Prix Indurain, 3rd at the Flèche Walloon and 4th in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. The 24-year-old Belgian can do everything, on any terrain. All that's missing is success to complete a season worthy of the greatest.
Symbol of a Lotto Dstny team which relies on young Belgian talents (Arnaud de Lie, Lennert van Eetvelt, Florian Vermeersch), it will also be lined up for the next two and last classics of the season. Before considering the Tour de Suisse then the Tour de France? With his qualities as a puncher, Lotto has quite a string to his bow to bring back good results, he who managed last year to obtain a second place on the 13th stage, at the legendary Grand Colombier.
Benoot the faithful soldier, uncertainty for Stuyven
Often a recluse soldier for the big names at Visma, Tiesj Benoot was able to taste the joys of the role of leader on the Ardennes classics, including a 9th place at the top of the Mur de Wuy and a 12th place on the Doyenne.
As usual, the young father should be aligned with the Tour de France, even if the objectives of Visma and the presence of Vingegaard are not clearly defined. And as usual, he should be part of the Belgian selection for the world championships, where he obtained a good 9th place in Glasgow last year. The Tour of Lombardy could be the last dance of his season.
Jasper Stuyven will make his return to the Giro, three months later his terrible fall on Across Flanders.
Uijtdebroeks among the Giro outsiders
Victory at the next Tour of Italy seems promised to Pogacar, as his domination of the classics and the low adversity mean that the Slovenian will seem invincible.
Pogacar winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège: “We don’t attack to be accompanied by ten guys…”
Placed 3rd in the list of favorites among certain bookmakers (behind Pogi and Thomas), Cian Uijtdebroeks could come and play spoilsport.
The spring of the smiling young Belgian was somewhat different. He preferred to take part in stage races, without taking the route of the Belgian classics. With a good 5th place on O Gran Camino and a 7th on the Tirreno Adriatico, he was able to gain some experience before tackling the second Grand Tour of his career, at only 21 years old. The rest of his season is not yet known. But there is no doubt that Visma is counting on her new talent.
