ProTeam Toon Aerts looks ahead to his very first Monument
# Toon Aerts Prepares for His First Monument at the Tour of Flanders
Toon Aerts, a promising name in cycling, is thrilled and anxious as he gears up for his inaugural Monument race at the Tour of Flanders. “The week before such a World Championship is the most important of the year. That’s exactly how I feel now,” Aerts shared in a candid moment. With shades of excitement and nerves, he notes, “You still want to do everything, your thoughts tell you ‘go for it’, while you also shouldn’t overdo it. It’s really exciting. This is not only my very first classic, it’s immediately also my first Monument.”
Aerts had been on the longlist for the prestigious race for a while, but the official confirmation that he would be one of the seven riders representing Lotto-Intermarché only arrived this week. “If it hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have blamed myself. I’ve done everything I could. Literally everything has gone perfectly in recent weeks,” he expressed. Overcoming challenges from the cyclo-cross season, Aerts achieved remarkable feats during his training camp in Girona and performed strongly in the GP de Denain. His recent training in Catalonia boosted his confidence, particularly after finishing fourth in stage 3, where he demonstrated his stamina.
“Until now, what lies ahead was something I could only dream of,” Aerts reflected. He reminisced about his childhood experiences riding through Flanders, stating, “As a kid, I sometimes rode the Tour of Flanders as a tourist.” Familiarity with iconic roads like the Koppenberg fueled his ambitions, but he approached the race with respect. “I do know those roads, but in recent weeks I’ve still taken a closer look at their order. It’s also the first time I’ll ride such a long race. I’m not afraid, but I don’t underestimate it either,” he affirmed.
Aerts confidently tackled the challenging recon of the course, stating, “On that slippery Koppenberg, I managed to reach the top nicely (laughs). On the Paterberg, I pushed hard once and that felt really good. The Tour has a course that suits me, for sure.” His strategy for the race is clear: “My task will be to support the team perfectly. Key moments for me will be the early sectors and climbs, where I want to position the team well. I want to fully execute what is asked of me. If that works, I’ll be satisfied with my race on Sunday evening.”
Joining Aerts at the Tour of Flanders are teammates Jenno Berckmoes, Cedric Beullens, Vito Braet, Sébastien Grignard, Jonas Rutsch, and Luca Van Boven. For the women’s race, the Lotto-Intermarché team comprises Dina Boels, Annelies Nijssen, Marieke Meert, Sterre Vervloet, Anna Van Wersch, and Linda Riedmann. As the event approaches, all eyes will be on Aerts as he aims to make a lasting impression on this monumental stage.
