Loss in last race doesn't bother Van Aert now the season is over: "Now I can finally be a dad"

Visma | Lease a Bike broke open the SUPER 8 Classic on their own about 80 kilometers from the finish, putting Van Aert and Brennan in an elite group of about 20 riders. But the pair had to do most of the final stretch on their own. “With a slightly better version of myself and my teammates, we could have played a little more,” Van Aert told Het Laatste Nieuws.

The 30-year-old Belgian played the role of workhorse in the final, doing a lot of the leading work and chasing down breakaways. As a result, he had no chance of playing a leading role in the final stretch. “We had hoped to wait a little longer before playing the Brennan card. But the decision was made quickly.” When Christophe Laporte and Tiesj Benoot dropped back, it was up to the two leaders of the day.

That's when van Aert made his decision, quickly choosing his British teammate, who is 10 years his junior. It was a fairly simple choice. “I did better than during the races in Canada, but I wasn't confident that if I got to the front with someone, I would be able to finish it off. I enjoyed trying to keep everything together.”

This brings an eventful year to an end for the man from Herentals. It's time to take a break. “The stage wins in Siena (the Giro, ed.) and Paris (the Tour, ed.) really made my year. There were also some less successful moments, where I missed opportunities. Now it's time for a break. But without my bike. They'll be happy about that at home. Now I can really be a dad.”