"I am looking forward to the road race, as I am not a favorite for once" - Wout van Aert doesn't have high hopes for the Olympic time trial

Unlike previous years, Wout van Aert wasn't able to play decisive role for Visma | Lease a Bike, especially in the mountains. That was no surprise considering his injuries from spring. Thus it also makes sense the Belgian didn't force himself too much in the final time trial where he clocked only 120th time.

Van Aert had already said in advance that he would ride the time trial calmly and kept his word. "I tried to ride a nice pace and not push. I considered it a good training for next Saturday. To be in the time trial position as much as possible, although that was quite risky without having reconnoitered the course. I arrived safely, the most important thing was to have an extra day of rest for next week," he told Sporza.

Also Van Aert found the course 'treacherous.' "I had been warned, so if I had any doubts, I didn't put myself in the stirrups. But if you've explored it properly, it's not insurmountable. But for me it was a matter of keeping my eyes open."

Due to the aftermath of the heavy crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen, Van Aert started the Tour with a fitness deficit. How does he feel now, more than three weeks later? "That is difficult to say. I felt that I really made progress in this Tour. There were stages where I felt very good, especially in the last one I rode better and better uphill. But I have also been used to different in other editions. I am curious, together with everyone else, how the rest that I am now going to take will do me good. Because I do believe in it."

There won't be much time to rest though, as Van Aert is scheduled to represent Belgium in the Olympic Games time trial on July 27, alongside Remco Evenepoel. "On Saturday it will be difficult against the specialists anyway, I have to be honest about that. I am looking forward to the road race, as I am not a favorite for once," said Van Aert, who will stay at the sunny coast of Nice until Wednesday when he'll relocate to Paris.