Listen & read
Wout van Aert finishes fourth in the 2026 Tour of Flanders, unable to secure a podium spot against fierce competition. The Belgian star finds himself outmatched by Tadej Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel, and Mathieu van der Poel. After a promising performance in Milan-San Remo, expectations ran high, but the race unfolds differently.
Van Aert stays close to Pogačar on the Oude Kwaremont, but things quickly deteriorate. He gets dropped by the eventual winner Pogačar and the runners-up Evenepoel and van der Poel on the subsequent false flats. Van Aert teams up with Mads Pedersen for a chase but ultimately finishes solo in fourth place.
Evenepoel secures third, making a podium finish for Van Aert impossible. His status as Belgium's top cobbled Classics hope takes a hit. “We could only have come back if they had looked at each other in front,” Van Aert admits. He thanks Pedersen for their solid teamwork, stating, “It wasn’t meant to be to come back, but we did what we could.” The race concludes with a chaotic and intense finish, highlighting the fierce rivalry among the sport's elite.
Comments (0)