Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) has had to listen to running commentary - from Tom Boonen and the Belgian and international media, among others - about what wins he needs on his palmares if he is to realise his full potential.
Boonen, Belgium's classics king in his day, has said Van Aert needs big wins like Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, insisting he can win as many cyclocross races as he wants but nobody will care.
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Sections of the media, especially in Belgium, have echoed those views. In recent days Belgian media insisted Van Aert had to win today if he was to go into his upcoming races, especially Tour of Flanders, with confidence.
And much of that commentary has focussed on the fact Van Aert, who is now aged 28 years, still 'only' has one Monument win in his palmares despite his abilities - Milan-Sanremo in 2020.
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But today, after winning E3 Saxo Classic, he turned to the camera just after the finish line and said "Ik moet just niks", which means "I don't need to do anything you say". It was unclear if he was responding to Boonen, the media, or somebody else. But he was letting people know he's his own man and doesn't need to prove himself to anyone.
He was best today in the 204km World Tour race into Harelbeke after riding clear of the opposition with Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates), Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Van Aert struggled at times on the inclines to contain the pace of Pogačar's attacks. But he eventually beat his two rivals in the three-up sprint to take his first win of the season, some six days after placing 3rd at Milan-Sanremo.
Having seen his pre-season training interrupted by illness, and delayed his 2023 debut as a result, Van Aert will likely be able to move it up a gear in coming days and weeks. If so, it would be perfect timing as he has Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday followed by the Tour of Flanders a week later and Paris-Roubaix the following Sunday, April 9th.
