Belgian champion Wout Van Aert missed the Jumbo-Visma team's pre-race reconnaissance on Thursday due to illness, putting his participation in the Tour de Flanders in doubt. In a social media post, Jumbo-Visma admitted that his chances of lining up in the Ronde are "slim."

Van Aert, who has already won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and the E3 Saxo Bank Classic this season, was a favorite to win the Tour de Flanders.

His absence will change the lineup of favorites to win the Oudenaarde, which features Doire de Flanderen winner Mathieu Van der Pol (Alpecin Phoenix) and two-time Tour de France winner Tadey Pogachar (UAE Team Emirates). Jumbo-Visma did not specify Van Aat's medical condition.

"Unfortunately Wout will not participate in today's recon ride. Unfortunately he is not feeling well and that is why he is at home. We will have to ride without him at least today," said team director Grischa Niermann.

"It wouldn't be so bad if he only had to miss today's Recon run, but of course we have to admit that there is a possibility that he will miss the race."

After his victory in Harelbeke last Friday, Van Aert showed sharp acceleration two days later in Kemmelberg in Gent-Wevelgem, underscoring his pre-Ronde form. The Belgian did not race in Wednesday's Dwar door Hlaanderen, instead training for the Tour of Flanders.

Niermann said a final decision on Van Aert's participation in the grandest event in Belgian cycling will likely be made Friday.

"It's hard to say at this point," he said. If he's in good shape and ready to race on Sunday morning, we may let him race. Probably by tomorrow we will know how things are going and how things develop."

Jumbo Visma has bolstered his Classics team to support Van Aert in the off-season, and two new riders may lead the team at the Tour de Flanders. Christophe Laporte finished second in the E3 Saxo Bank Classic and Gent-Wevelgem, while Tige Benoot was passed by Van der Pol in Wednesday's Doire de Flanderen.

"If that's the case, we have to make a new plan. It would be a very, very big setback," Niermann said. 'Of course, we can't replace him. On the other hand, the whole team is in great shape and we have two of the best riders here: Tighe and Christophe. We will then have a new plan.

"The race will be very different, not only for ourselves, but also for our competitors. Of course we will start the race with a new plan and with the goal of winning."

In the 2020 Tour de Flanders, postponed by the pandemic, Van Aat finished second but lost a sprint win to Van der Pol. He was also a favorite to win the race 12 months ago, but settled for sixth place in Oudenaarde.

This year's race will bring a new twist to the long-standing rivalry between Van-Earle and Van der Pol.

If Van Aert's absence is confirmed, Van der Pol will depart Antwerp as the favorite to win, but the absence of the Belgian champion could change the entire course of the race.