"Hopefully Pogacar doesn't interfere” – Wout van Aert anticipates battle with Tour de France winner in Paris

Wout van Aert has one last chance to end his three-year drought of Tour de France stage victories, and he’s aiming squarely at Sunday’s finale in Paris. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider made a bid to get into the breakaway on Stage 20 but couldn’t make it stick. Instead, the win went to Kaden Groves, leaving Van Aert with one more opportunity to get that win he craves. The final stage won’t follow the traditional Champs-Élysées script, with a Montmartre climb on the menu, it may play to Van Aert’s strengths.

"It was another tough start, and in the first part of the stage, I didn't have the legs I'd hoped for," Van Aert told HLN. "I tried a few times, but I couldn't really get into the breakaway." He described being caught in limbo as the race unfolded: “Halfway through the stage, I ended up with a group between the peloton and the leading group.

“But because most of them already had someone in the front, we ended up in no-man's land.” Van Aert also pointed to what he saw as a tactical misstep by organisers, noting, “It's the biggest race in the world, and it's normal for riders to sprint for a podium finish. I think the organizers were more at fault here, putting that turn in the last 500 meters.”

Despite the frustrations, Van Aert is looking ahead. "I'm much more motivated for this final stage than before. Montmartre will be more of a classic. I expect a short, explosive race that should suit me."

With the terrain likely to shake up a typical sprint, his chances may improve, but he’s keeping one eye on the overall winner. "Hopefully Pogacar doesn't interfere. (laughs) He certainly doesn't look very motivated anymore, but you never know with him."