"Others get more respite"; is this the best van Aert? Question leads to candid answers at Visma | Lease a Bike

Van Dongen saw that his team ignited the race in the right way. With one man down—due to the absence of Per Strand Hagenes, who crashed on Sunday in Paris-Roubaix—master domestique Tiesj Benoot blew the race open, after which van Aert took over. The leader of Visma | Lease a Bike responded swiftly to a breakaway by Evenepoel, after which they were joined at the front by Joe Blackmore (Israel-Premier Tech).

"Wout made the first move and made a good impression," said Van Dongen, who spoke only briefly with his rider. "We didn't get any signals, and he didn't say whether it was good, bad, or anything else," said the sports director of Visma | Lease a Bike. Evenepoel ultimately proved to be the faster rider on the nasty climb to the finish in Overijse. "We started the final confidently and were beaten by a worthy opponent."

"I think Wout rode a very good race and performed very well, according to plan," said Van Dongen, not looking for excuses. "We would have liked to win but came up against a strong Remco. He's not slow after a race like that and after being on the attack for so long. So it's no disgrace to finish second behind him."

"Remco proved to be the strongest. Too bad. We didn't make any mistakes, but we were beaten in a fair fight," Van Dongen sums it up nicely in a few sentences. Where does this Brabantse Pijl race fit in with what we've seen in recent weeks? "We know this is a very difficult race. It is intense, with 165 kilometers. The last 55 kilometers at a very high pace."

"I haven't spoken to Wout yet, so I don't know how he feels about it," says Van Dongen. "I think he's realistic enough to put it into perspective. He doesn't need to be overly disappointed because he rode a strong race without making too many mistakes. If you can finish second in Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Brabantse Pijl and fourth in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, I don't think you're performing poorly. Although we would all like to see him win."

When asked, "Is this the best version of Wout van Aert?" Van Dongen responded emphatically. "It's very simple in cycling. You're only as good as your opponent allows you to be and, in some races, only as good as your last race," he sighs. "Some people forget what he went through last year; others would have dropped out earlier or been given much more respite."

"That's fine, and everyone has to decide for themselves, but we're not losing sight of that. If someone crashes so badly in the Vuelta and then crashes again in Roubaix last Sunday, I think he's good. And I think that's enough to answer your question." Point taken. Sunday brings a new opportunity.