Two races, two big attacks, no win – What do Wout van Aert's double close defeats mean for the Tour of Flanders?

Wout van Aert, representing Visma-Lease a Bike, experienced two significant near-misses this past weekend, failing to convert powerful attacks into victories at both the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem. Despite orchestrating decisive moves that fractured both races, he was ultimately outmaneuvered in the finales, finishing third at E3 behind Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Stuyven, and then third again at Gent-Wevelgem, beaten by Mads Pedersen and Mathieu van der Poel. These results leave him without a win from two key Flanders warm-up races.

These consecutive close defeats undoubtedly raise questions ahead of the Tour of Flanders, a race Van Aert has explicitly targeted. While Visma-Lease a Bike's DS, Merijn Zeeman, maintains confidence, acknowledging that "in the end it's about winning," the pattern of launching race-winning moves only to be denied in the sprint or by superior tactical play is a concerning one. Van Aert's form is clearly peaking, but the execution in the critical moments has been found wanting against rivals who appear equally strong, if not more opportunistic.

Ultimately, Van Aert's raw power is undeniable, but the sport rewards the victor, not merely the aggressor. One can only hope he's saving his winning punch for the Ronde, because 'almost' won't cut it.