Two stage victories, three second places, four days in yellow and the green jersey which already sticks to his skin: such is the exceptional record of Wout van Aert since the start of this Tour de France. “It was a great start to the Grande Boucle”he explained in an interview with VTM on the occasion of the rest day in Morzine, “It’s only now that I can look in the rear-view mirror. Otherwise, we always look to the next day. It’s only now that I really realize the great performances I’ve already been able to achieve.”
A great man at the start of the Tour with Tadej Pogacar, the Belgian returned to his four days with the yellow jersey on his shoulders: “I have achieved one of my dreams of the past few years. Especially since I had to work a lot to get it. And I have lived extraordinary days with this jersey. Winning a victory in yellow, rolling on the cobblestones, the departure from Binche in Belgium. If I had been able to choose in advance, that’s exactly how I would have wished.”
“The departure of Binche? Even more special than I thought”
If he has won a lot since the start of this Tour de France, the moment that will remain in his memory until now happened outside the race: “During the 2nd stage in Denmark, I conquered the yellow jersey. When we wanted to go back, we were stuck in traffic but we were escorted by several very friendly Danish policemen. At that moment, you feel a little bit like a superstar”remembered the former Belgian champion who also thoroughly enjoyed from the start of Binche.
“I should have expected it: this crowd, this noise, but it was the day following the cobblestone stage which went badly for us… I had kept the yellow without worrying too much regarding it. expect”recalls Van Aert, “During a start in Belgium, there are automatically a lot of people at the start, but I did not expect there to be so many supporters. To be together with Eddy Merckx on the podium, it was a lot of events at the same time. I wasn’t sure how to behave. It was even more special than I thought.”
“The green jersey is not as simple as it seems”
For the rest of the Tour de France, Van Aert’s objective is above all to bring the green jersey back to the Champs Élysées. A jersey that is securely attached to his shoulders: “It might have looked easy from the outside but it was not at all.”underlines the Belgian to our Dutch-speaking colleagues, “we knew that a lot of stages would suit me at the start of the Tour, with a lot of finishes where I might take a lot of points from the pure sprinters. I already have a very good margin. Now, we have to defend this jersey and, knock on wood, I hope to stay on the bike and finish the race.”
Now that the green jersey is (almost) in his pocket, Van Aert will be able to fully help his leaders in the mountains. Because for him, as for the whole Jumbo-Visma team, the final victory is still possible: “We thought before the Tour that the first week would be to Roglic’s advantage with the clock, uphill finishes including the Planche des Belles Filles… and we thought that Vingegaard would be a little behind and that his time would come in the continuation of the Tour”explains the Belgian, “In the end, it’s a bit the opposite that happened since Primoz lost time on the cobbles and Jonas is well ahead. We know that Pogacar is the favorite and he shows it every day. But Jonas showed in recent days that he might accompany him. He does not have his explosiveness but all the stages will not end in a sprint. Especially since the heat should benefit him.”
