Wout Van Aert made a dramatic entrance at the Rabobank sponsorship presentation in the Netherlands, before flying by private helicopter to West Flanders to join his Team Visma-Lease a Bike teammates on a final reconnaissance of the route.

The Belgian champion, despite being the top name in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad startlist alongside American Matteo Jorgenson , is keeping a low profile about his ambitions for Saturday's race. His main rivals include Jasper Philipsen, Paul Magnier, António Morgado, Arnaud De Lie and Tom Pidcock.

"I'm a bit nervous, you can feel the extra tension in everyone. It's also the first race in front of so many spectators," Van Aert said during the Rabobank event. " I feel good, I was able to stay at home for a few days and I took advantage of it. Now I'm eager to race the first Flemish classics."

Van Aert 's program includes a period of altitude training after the Omloop, skipping Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo to aim for peak form in the Spring Classics. His caution is also justified by the long recovery after his crash at the Vuelta.

Sports director Grischa Niermann is more optimistic: "Our goal is to win a race. Wout showed in the Algarve time trial that he is in good shape, but we should not expect him to be at his best this weekend. His peak is expected between the end of March and the beginning of April, when the monuments will be run."

The team will field a strong line-up despite some absences due to injury and illness, with Benoot, Affini, Hagenes, Campenaerts and the young Briton Brennan supporting Van Aert and Jorgenson .

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency