'We could only have come back if they had started looking at each other' - Wout van Aert settles for fourth in Tour of Flanders

Wout van Aert finished fourth in the 2026 Tour of Flanders, unable to challenge the dominant trio of Tadej Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel, and Mathieu van der Poel. Despite being well-positioned on the Oude Kwaremont and initially sticking close to Pogačar, Van Aert was dropped on the subsequent false flats and had to settle for a chasing role alongside Mads Pedersen. Ultimately, he crossed the line alone in fourth, with the podium out of reach as Evenepoel secured third place ahead of him. Van Aert’s performance followed a promising third place at Milan-San Remo and near misses in other spring Classics, raising hopes for a strong showing on home soil. However, the race unfolded against the backdrop of a superior group of rivals who controlled the decisive moments. Van Aert acknowledged that bridging back to the leaders was only possible if they had started to mark each other more closely, which never materialised, leaving him to make the best of a difficult situation. Reflecting on the race, Van Aert highlighted a crucial moment on the Molenberg climb when UAE Team Emirates intensified the pace, which left him momentarily out of contention. He praised his teammates, particularly Christophe Laporte, for helping him maintain a reasonable position before this key point. Despite the setback, Van Aert remained optimistic and satisfied with his effort, noting that he had done everything possible on the day. Looking ahead, Van Aert is now focusing on Paris-Roubaix as his final opportunity for redemption in the cobbled Classics this spring. Although he had hoped for a better result in the Tour of Flanders, he remains determined to challenge the top contenders and add to his palmarès. The race once again underscored the fierce competition among the elite Classics riders and the fine margins that separate victory from near misses.