Wout van Aert also responds to interview with Vingegaard's wife: "We were surprised to read that yesterday"

Before the start of the third stage on Monday, Wout van Aert was also asked about the article. “We were surprised to read that yesterday after the stage. I don't want to say too much about it. My performances for this team speak for themselves,” said the super-domestique at Sporza. “I consider this team to be my team, and I always give 100 percent for the goals we set for ourselves. Here in the Tour, one of those goals is a stage win for myself.”

Van Aert also emphasized that all goals were clearly discussed before the start of this Tour. “That's clear to everyone, including Jonas, and that's what we're focused on. Are we still friends? Of course. However, I do think it was beneficial to discuss it. It's not Jonas who said those words. I regret what was written, but people who know me know they can count on me.”

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Vinegaard said earlier that he had not read the article. "I've only heard something about it. So, I'm not 100 percent sure what it says. I don't read the media during the Tour, so it's difficult for me to answer that." Vingegaard and Visma | Lease a Bike showed on the bike that they had everything under control. Almost everything. “We wanted to go for Wout van Aert, but he didn't have the legs to make anything happen,” said the Dane after the second stage.

And so we will have to wait and see how Van Aert's legs will be after the opening weekend in northern France. Arthur Van Dongen, sports director at Visma-Lease a Bike, is clear about this: “Wout has no intention of sprinting today (Monday, ed.). He's saving that for other days. Which ones? Stages with a different profile, with a more difficult finish.”

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Van Aert will, therefore, not be going for his chances in the first stages. This is due to his recent illness. "I feel okay, but of course, I had hoped to achieve better results and be more present in the final. I was certainly disappointed after yesterday's stage. Did the illness hit me more than I expected? That's possible. Maybe it cost me more energy than I had anticipated. I was hoping to be on form, but my legs weren't there yet yesterday. As disappointing as that is, I have to accept it."