Van Aert admits mistake: "That was a misjudgment on my part"

In the Amstel Gold Race, Van Aert was part of the leading group, which consisted entirely of lightweight riders. The Belgian from Visma | Lease a Bike carried his extra kilos over the hills of Limburg and then won the sprint for fourth place. He finished ahead of the fast Michael Matthews from Jayco AlUla, which, according to his team, was an extra boost for the leader.

"In the Kruisberg, Eyserbosweg, and Keutenberg zone, I knew survival was important," said van Aert after the race. "I was at the limit a few times. Maybe that's why I lost track of things momentarily and didn't realize that Pogacar wasn't that far ahead of us. I'm a little disappointed about that, but on the other hand, I have to be satisfied."

"It was a super tough race," van Aert said at the finish in Berg en Terblijt. "The pace was extremely high all day. When the race exploded, half the peloton had already been dropped. But I felt good. I rode a good race and got the most out of it."

However, there was also a point of criticism. Skjelmose and Evenepoel rode away on the flat, where van Aert and his remaining teammate, Tiesj Benoot, missed the right breakaway. "I'm satisfied with this result, but it's a pity I missed Remco's move. He was super strong, but it was a misjudgment on my part. I didn't realize fully that we were in contention for the win," said van Aert. He and Benoot eventually finished fourth and eighth.

Van Aert is now wrapping up his spring season, but in three weeks, he will return at the Giro d'Italia's start. "I'm pleased with how I've performed in recent weeks. I didn't get a win, but I'm happy with my level. I'll probably put my bike away for three days, but then I'll start focusing on the Giro," he concluded.

Van Aert will prepare for the Italian race with a training camp in Lucca. He ended his classics campaign with second place in Dwars door Vlaanderen and the Brabantse Pijl and fourth place in the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, and the Amstel Gold Race.