Team Visma | Lease a Bike targets success in Flemish opening weekend despite Van Aert’s absence
# Team Visma | Lease a Bike Aims High for Flemish Opening Weekend Despite Van Aert’s Absence
As the cycling season kicks off, Team Visma | Lease a Bike gears up for the Flemish opening weekend, ready to make their mark with two formidable riders: Matthew Brennan and Christophe Laporte. The absence of star cyclist Wout van Aert, who is sidelined due to illness, looms large, but the team remains optimistic.
During a recent press conference, Head of Racing Grischa Niermann expressed confidence in his squad. “We will have a strong team at the start in Ghent on Saturday, with multiple cards to play,” he noted. Brennan, fresh off a victory in Australia, echoed this sentiment: “I’m feeling strong, and that win […] gave me a lot of confidence heading into the classics season. We have set some ambitious but exciting goals for this spring, starting with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday.”
### Leverage Experience for Success
Historically, Team Visma | Lease a Bike has shone in the Flemish weekend, claiming three of the last four editions of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, courtesy of riders like Van Aert, Dylan van Baarle, and Jan Tratnik. However, last year proved challenging. Niermann reflects, “Our positioning wasn’t good enough at the key moments. We have learned from that, and this year we need to race more aggressively and show ourselves at the front.” A crucial element of this strategy involves Laporte, who has consistently demonstrated his ability to be in the fight during finales of races.
Laporte, who recently recovered from a crash at the Ruta del Sol, is anxious to contribute after missing last year’s spring campaign. “He has recovered from that now,” Niermann confirmed. “Christophe is highly motivated to be there this time. We hope he will be one of our riders in the finale on Saturday.” Brennan is likewise committed, stating, “I will fight for a strong result on both days this weekend.”
### Stepping Up in Van Aert’s Absence
Van Aert’s absence is undeniably a blow. The reigning Omloop Het Nieuwsblad champion shared his disappointment: “Obviously, it’s a big blow for me to miss out on my first race, having prepared for the classics season the whole winter.” Despite this setback, he expressed optimism, saying, “I remain positive about the feeling I had on training and am confident that I will be able to return to racing soon. Just not this Saturday.”
While Niermann acknowledged the setback, he maintains perspective: “It’s very unfortunate, but these things happen. The timing isn’t ideal with the classics season starting. Of course, Omloop is a fantastic race, but there are even bigger objectives ahead for Wout.”
### Looking Ahead
As Team Visma | Lease a Bike heads into the races on February 28 for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and March 1 for Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, their roster includes Edoardo Affini, Per Strand Hagenes, Timo Kielich, Pietro Mattio, Axel Zingle alongside Brennan and Laporte.
With clear ambitions and a robust strategy, the team aims to make a striking impression this weekend, even in the absence of one of their star riders. As Brennan wraps up, “Ideally, we want multiple riders in the finale; that’s the best scenario for us.” The stage is set for an exhilarating opening weekend in Flemish cycling.
