Wout van Aert jokes after 2nd place in Laval: "I’ll post it on Twitter next time"

“The finish could suit me, but I don't expect a challenging stage, and the wind is also unfavorable,” Van Aert said before the start of the stage, explaining his decision to maybe skip the sprint in Laval. “I think I need more exhaustion to have a chance in a sprint. Personally, I'm not hoping for a quiet day, but you can't always control things yourself.”

In the end, he took matters into his own hands in the final kilometers, positioning himself and launching a sprint for the stage win. Van Aert was perfectly positioned behind Milan but was unable to pass the Italian Stallion. “A clean sprint, a worthy winner? Indeed,” were the Belgian's first words at his team bus.

“I had already decided before the stage that I would sprint,” Van Aert admitted. “It was a tough sprint with some uphill sections, so I wanted to go for it. I was close, and I'm satisfied. It's also nice for me to get a result. I'm definitely happy with this. My legs were already good, and they still are. But as I said before, it's difficult for me to beat guys like Milan.”

He accepted that he hadn't been entirely honest before the start. “Next time, I'll announce it and put it on Twitter. When you start, you have every right to go for a result.” And then, on Sunday in Chateauroux, there will be another opportunity for the fast riders. “I'll think about it. Maybe I'll put it on Twitter, although I'm not sure if I still know my password,” Van Aert concluded with a laugh.