Speechless van Aert after stunning Strade-stage victory: "It really had to happen here"

"It's easy to say that this victory means a lot to me," Van Aert began his post-race interview. The Belgian was visibly struggling to find the right words. "I can hardly explain it. I think it really had to happen here. This is where my road career started, in 2018," Van Aert said, referring to his third place in that year's Strade Bianche. "To win here, after a long period without a victory, and finally deliver again... Yes, that feels really good."

The Visma | Lease a Bike rider was on the road for a long time with Isaac Del Toro, and the Mexican from UAE Team Emirates-XRG was doing the hard work. "I have to say he did a really great job," Van Aert praised his opponent. "I felt a bit sh*t that I couldn't get involved because he's obviously an opponent of my teammate Simon Yates, so I had to let him do the hard work. But he was still so close to beating me. I really had to fight to stay with him until the top of the last climb, here in the streets of Siena."

With a brilliant move in the final few hundred meters, van Aert finally passed Del Toro. "I know the finish pretty well, so I knew I had to make my move in the final corners." Was that mainly thanks to the 30-year-old rider's experience? "Maybe," says the Belgian, although he wasn't flawless in the final stretch either. "My last corner wasn't great; I almost missed it. But you're pretty close to the finish line when you're in first position. Of course, I knew that after a few Strade Bianche races."

"I don't think I need to tell you how much work went into this and how much I've been waiting for this moment," Van Aert continued later on Eurosport. "I'm happy to admit that Isaac was the strongest man in the race. I had the legs today, and the race situation was in my favor. I knew Isaac had the pink jersey at his fingertips, so I had to take advantage of that opportunity to let him do the hard work. To end a difficult period here with my family... That feels really good, and it was a huge relief," said the Belgian about a fantastic day in Tuscany.

After a difficult spring and a difficult start to the Giro, Van Aert finally recorded his 50th career victory. It was also the Visma rider's first victory since August 27 last year. Van Aert won the tenth stage of the Vuelta a España, after which a serious crash in that Vuelta led to a long rehabilitation.