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. Ad 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.

Ronde van VlaanderenTeam Jumbo-Visma’s Van Baarle ruled out of Tour of Flanders19 HOURS AGO Asked about who he thought would be the next Belgian winner at the Tour of Flanders, Gilbert told Eurosport: “Let’s hope Wout van Aert but I’m not sure. He was good in E3 [Saxo Bank Classic] but he was not the strongest. Let’s see.

“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