Wout van Aeryou won at his home in Herentals the bouquet of the winner of “son” post-Tour criterium on Thursday evening. The green jersey of the Tour de France sprinted ahead of the Dutchman Mathieu Van der Poel and the champion of Belgium Tim Merlier following 50 laps of a 1.84 kilometer circuit for a total of 92 terminals.
The Eritrean Biniam Girmay took 4th place ahead of Dries DeBondt.
Wout van Aert was welcomed by several thousand people, many wearing green clothes.
“It’s fantastic to see so many people who have put on green. The enthusiasm of the public in Roeselare was already huge, but it’s even more intense here, especially since for me it’s at home“, said Wout van Aert.
“I can now take a little rest, I removed the Clasica San Sebastian from my program on Saturday. I think I can win it one day, but not in the state I’m in. The Tour de France cost me a lot of strength. And I still haven’t recovered from all my efforts. It therefore makes no sense to move to Spain. After the Tour, I had a solid cold“.