"As a team we were ready for it" - Jumbo-Visma and Wout van Aert delighted with E3 Saxo Classic glory

Jumbo-Visma's Tosh van der Sande has revealed how after the teams pre-race plans being put into disarray early on, Wout van Aert's E3 Saxo Classic victory tastes all the more sweeter.

It was Mathieu van der Poel who put the pressure on early, ripping the race apart and forcing van Aert and co onto the defence. “I was behind it, so blocking it was all I could do. It is then super fun if Wout can finish it," van der Sande tells In de Leiderstrui. "I didn't get anything. I think we were a little too far behind."

With van der Sande helping van Aert defend his E3 Saxo Classic title, the Belgian believes the victory confirms Jumbo-Visma's status are the pelotons premiere team.

"This is very gratifying. Of course we wanted to win, but as a team we were ready for it," says the 31-year-old Belgian. "I tried to join the forcing towards the Taaienberg, which was the point we had agreed on. After that I was in the group behind it, so it was good."