“I am here to perform and I want to go for it” – Van Aert targets Tour de France stage 4 victory

After a low-key start to his 2025 Tour de France campaign, Wout van Aert is targeting a breakthrough on stage 4. Speaking before the start in Amiens, the Belgian made it clear he’s aiming for the win on a course tailor made for his characteristics.

“We need to be in a good position in the final, that will be crucial on this technical course,” Van Aert told Het Nieuwsblad at the start line today. “I hope to be a bit better than Sunday, but it will be on the edge for the punchers. I felt good on the bike yesterday, so my confidence is starting to grow. I am here to perform and I want to go for it.”

Today’s route from Amiens to Rouen features a demanding finale with four categorized climbs in the last thirty kilometers, including the Côte de Belbeuf, Côte de Bonsecours, Côte de Grand’Mare, and the brutal Rampe Sant-Hillaire. It's a terrain that suits the likes of Van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, and Tadej Pogacar, and it means we should be set for a thrilling day of racing.

Van der Poel claimed his first Tour stage win in four years on stage 2, a result that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Van Aert, who has been chasing his own tenth stage victory since 2022. Stage 4 could present one of his best opportunities yet.

Van Aert also addressed the crash that ended Jasper Philipsen’s Tour, showing visible empathy for his compatriot. "Of course it is terrible what happened to Philipsen. It hurt my eyes when I rode past him and every time I see the images, my stomach turns."

"I can now make a good estimate of what awaits him in his rehabilitation. I wish him the best and hopefully he can race again soon."