Van Aert is clear about his plans. “My ambition is to win a monument. Last season I had some nice victories, but I sometimes just missed out in the biggest classics. I hope that will change next season.”

With new riders in the team, Team Jumbo-Visma hopes to reinforce those ambitions. Classics specialists such as Tosh Van der Sande, Christophe Laporte and Tiesj Benoot, among others, made the step to the yellow-black formation. “We have really nicely expanded our classics squad”, says the brand new Belgian cyclo-cross champion. “We are in a much stronger position than in recent years. Largely because of the new riders. We are also working toward the spring with much more confidence. The other guys will also be extra stimulated to acquire their place in the selection. That only improves the level of the team.”

Mike Teunissen also hopes to show his qualities again in the spring. “I’m eager to start racing again now that spring is quickly approaching”, the Dutchman says. “Especially because I’ve had some setbacks in recent seasons. The hunger for good results in the spring is great. Especially because it has been a long time for me.”

As a new rider, the Belgian Benoot is also looking forward to the coming season. “I am happy to be part of this team. I will also ride the Omloop, and then Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico. After that, the classics up to and including Liège-Bastogne-Liège are on my schedule.”

In Strade Bianche and the Tirreno, Benoot finds races that suit him. “I am a rider who is perhaps just not explosive enough to belong to the absolute top in one-day races. My strength is that I am quite all-round and can be deployed anywhere. And if I’m in good form, I can be present in the final anywhere. Helping the leaders will also be an important task for me.”