Initially of the Tour de France, Visma-Lease a Bike have been taking part in down Wout van Aert’s possibilities of stage victories – however that could possibly be about to vary after the Belgian returned to the massive stage by profitable the dash for third on the opening day.
Earlier than the 2024 Tour rolled out of city in Florence, Van Aert advised the media that he had by no means arrived on the race “in such poor kind” after breaking his sternum, collarbone and 7 ribs at late-March’s Dwars door Vlaanderen.
But by the shores of Rimini on Saturday, the Belgian led residence the remnants of the peloton behind stage one winner Romain Bardet and his dsm–firmenich PostNL teammate Frank van den Broek.
A visibly emotional Van Aert burst into tears on the end after lacking out on the yellow jersey by solely a handful of seconds, later saying it was a shock to him to be aggressive on day one.
“It is actually satisfying to point out this once more,” he mentioned. “Clearly it is a pity I got here up brief on the win however [from] the place I got here from, I by no means anticipated to be right here on this degree. It feels actually good.”
Talking outdoors the Visma-Lease a Bike staff bus in a sweltering Cesenatico forward of stage two, sports activities director Frans Maassen indicated that Van Aert would have his personal alternatives within the race, however that his central ambition was getting reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard on to the rostrum in Good in three weeks’ time.
Maassen mentioned: “In fact, we wish to chase alternatives. However the primary purpose is to have Jonas all the time in the absolute best place and get any assist which is required to him and that is merely it.
“When he feels okay, then Wout is the type of man who can say, ‘okay, I am going for it’ and perhaps [Christophe] Laporte will help him if every little thing goes okay. In fact, we would like him [Van Aert] to win a stage, however we’ve to have a look at it day-to-day.”
Van Aert has solely ridden 5 race days since his damage within the spring, however he recovered nicely sufficient to make the Visma Tour staff.
“For us it not likely a shock that Wout took third [in Rimini],” Maassen added. “It is because we all know that he’s simply a superb rider.
“Throughout the stage he mentioned, ‘boys, I am feeling actually good, let’s go for it as I feel I can win the stage’ in order that gave quite a lot of motivation to everybody for the times to come back.”
His eye-catching efficiency on the Tour’s opening weekend is a mirrored image of his work previously month, Maassen mentioned. “We knew his form on the climbs would not be that good, like when he gained, for instance, on Mont Ventoux [at the 2021 Tour], however he did a very good job working in Tignes at our altitude camp [in June] to get into a greater form after the Tour of Norway [where he] was not ok to compete with one of the best within the Tour.
“He made one other step and he is all the time good within the warmth. He is simply an exceptionally good rider as everyone knows.”
