"I hope my chances of winning the pink jersey are not over" - Wout van Aert anticipates opening weekend at the Giro d'Italia

Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Wout van Aert was a clear favourite to take on the pink jersey in the opening days of this year's Giro d'Italia as stages 1 and 3 present quite some climbing but a sprint finish, and stage 2 is a mostly flat time-trial. However, the Belgian comes in uncertain after the illness that affected him after the spring classics.

"Although I have been feeling better over the past two days, I hope my chances of winning the pink jersey are not over, but my expectations are not particularly high," he admitted in a press conference this Thursday in Tirana. "However, I don't want to give up and will grab every chance I get with both hands,"

Stage 1 features a small ascent that will be ridden twice before the downhill finish into the city center. "We rode the local lap. Cycling around here was pretty hectic, but it was good to have made the climb. I think it's a tough climb, with a steep initial section. It then descends to the finish, so I expect a fast race to the finish line. It's a good opportunity for attackers."

Van Aert has not showed a strong sprint this season, but will nevertheless - together with Mads Pedersen and perhaps Kaden Groves - be the main favourite to win the opening day of the race and be it's first leader. He has explored thoroughly what the riders will face:

"The organization has prepared the roads well for a race at the highest level. The condition of the road was good, and I didn't mean it as a criticism that there were some potholes during our other training sessions, but it's just different from what we're used to. I'm enjoying discovering a new culture here in Albania".

However, he enjoys coming into the race with freedom, and with a team that won't have the responsibility of doing heavy work but can instead focus on different goals throughout different days. "We have a strong team with guys who can ride on all terrains. We're starting with three leaders, which means we have a chance every day, with Olav for the sprints and Simon for the mountains. Unfortunately, my preparation wasn't ideal, so I'll have to take it day by day," he concluded.