The Belgian himself admits it: the two most important races of the year for him are on the doorstep with the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, the following Sunday.

These are two of the five greatest classics on the calendar, the Monuments, meetings for strong men on murderous cobblestones and Flanders that devote a centuries-old cult to cycling, where beer flows freely as heroes approach.

Victorious at the GP E3 a week ago, magnanimous Sunday on Ghent-Wevelgem where he offered victory on a plate to his teammate Christophe Laporte, the rider of the Jumbo-Visma advances as favorite on "the Ronde".

This is not the first time.

All-terrain rider, cut for this kind of races with his decathlete physique, the man from Herentals is often the first name that is checked when it comes to designating the one who wears the favorite sign, especially on his land.

Especially since he can count on an irresistible team that has taken over the first five cobbled classics of the season including a Laporte walking on water - even if Dylan van Baarle, 2nd last year but convalescent, will be absent.

Still, to date, despite a host of places of honor - 2nd in the Tour of Flanders 2020 and Paris-Roubaix 2022, 3rd in Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2022, eleven Top 10 in total - Van Aert still has only one Monument to his name: Milan-Sanremo in 2020.

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Many would be content with it as a life's work. But for a runner celebrated as the Messiah in Belgium since his earliest years, it is ultimately quite little, while he is also "only" Olympic vice-champion and vice-world champion.

And at 28, time is running out.

Especially when you consider that his great rival, the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, already has three Monuments to his credit (Tour of Flanders 2020 and 2022, Milan-Sanremo 2023), a record for an active rider he shares with Tadej Pogacar.

The two dynamiters will again be Van Aert's main competitors on Sunday on the 19 mountains to be climbed on a 273-kilometre course between Bruges and Oudenaarde.

In their duel installed since childhood, the psychological advantage now seems to lean in favor of Van der Poel who remains on an uncontested victory in Sanremo and, also, at the Cyclo-cross World Championships.

In Belgium at least, the pressure is intensifying.

By giving teammate Christophe Laporte victory in Ghent-Wevelgem on March 26, 2023, Belgian Wout van Aert drew criticism but also secured the unwavering support of French © rider JASPER JACOBS / BELGA / AFP / Archives

And the flat country has no shortage of former legends such as Eddy Merckx, Tom Boonen or Johan Museeuw to criticize Van Aert's choices. Including his gesture in favor of Christophe Laporte in Welvegem which could however prove to be a wise investment since the Frenchman, grateful for life, said he was more determined than ever to "give everything for Wout".

"Nothing to prove"

Van Aert knows the expectations. "If people see me winning the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, it's also a compliment. I also work very hard to earn them. So expectations are justified," he said.

But they also weigh. And his gesture of defiance after his victory at the E3 GP, when he stared at the camera of the bike by launching a loud "I have nothing to prove" was interpreted as a response to those who put him in the obligation to win a paved Monument.

Withdrew last year because of Covid, the Flemish, who was almost knocked down by a cement mixer on Tuesday in training, has reason to be in a hurry to end what looks more and more like a curse.

Wout Van Aert (in last position) won the E24 Grand Prix on 2023 March 3 ahead of Tadej Pogacar (in the lead) and Mathieu van der Poel: the three men will still be favourites for the Tour of Flanders on 2 April 2023 © Tim De WAELE / BELGA / AFP / Archives

The trouble is that he is sometimes so scary, especially in the sprint, that no one wants to ride with him when it comes to returning to a breakaway for example.

But dropping Van der Poel and Pogacar, who had a formidable mano a mano last year, seems just as complicated.

For Wout Van Aert, Monuments remain an equation to be solved.

© 2023 AFP