Tour of Flanders 2023: Philippe Gilbert ‘not sure’ about Wout van Aert’s chances at Ronde van Vlaanderen

Eurosport expert Philippe Gilbert says he is “not sure” about Wout van Aert’s chances of winning the Tour of Flanders for the first time.

Van Aert has a best finish of second at the famous one-day race, when he was beaten by Mathieu van der Poel in 2020.

He missed last year’s race due to testing positive for Covid-19 but is seen as the favourite for this Sunday’s event after his victory at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic.

“I think he went deep at Gent Wevelgem in the bad weather so let’s hope he is recovered, but I have no guarantee of that.

“[Tadej] Pogacar and Van der Poel are ready and really strong. I hope that Van Aert can win. I am not so sure.”

Gilbert remains the last Belgian winner of the Ronde van Vlaanderen, in 2017, after a sensational solo attack with over 55km remaining.

He reminisced on his victory, revealing he practised on a small cobbled climb near his parents’ house in the Ardennes.

“For me, it [Flanders] has always been a dream,” said Gilbert. “I was always dreaming about winning Flanders. Even when I was under 23, I was coming through the wind and sprint, and I finished fourth. I was already thinking, ‘ah, that was a chance to win Flanders at 23 and I missed it’.

“Then when I was turning pro, I was twice on the podium, but still not winning. Finally, I won and it was a big symbol because I also had the Belgium jersey.

“It’s a big symbol because we know that there are always political fights between two languages and two cultures. But in the end, we are all from the same country, so I was really proud of that.”

Peter Sagan will compete at the Tour of Flanders for the last time as he continues his final season in the sport before retirement.

Gilbert feels Sagan, who won the race in 2016, will find it hard to be in contention for the victory on Sunday because he is not at the same level he once was.

“It’s not easy because every organisation wants to make you an honour,” explained Gilbert. “They ask you to start in the front line, ask you questions. You always have the same question from the media. So, it’s a lot of pressure on top of what you have to do.

“I was just clear. I said, ‘I don’t want to do extra things. I don’t want, I don’t need flowers before the start. Things like that. I didn’t want to have all these things, so I was trying to focus on my race and enjoy it.

“I don’t think he can win [this year]. I would love to see it because I like Peter Sagan. I like what he did for cycling and what he did the last years and it was impressive.

“I have a lot of respect for that but then I would like to see him, you know, leaving the road race in this way, but I think that in the one-day race, he really lost a lot of his capacities.

“I think he’s just able now to still do some good sprints when it’s like a good race for him – not too hard and then he’s there, fresh, then he’s still able to do some good sprints.

“But in the big Classics, I don’t think that he is able to. It’s a pity because I think he will deserve it, winning the last big Monument or last big road race and then stopping.”

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