"I thought I was better prepared than I showed": Wout van Aert disappointed despite Visma’s team time trial win
Cycling
Wout van Aert endured a difficult day in the team time trial at the Tour Auvergne Rhône-Alpes 2026. The Belgian could not hold his teammates’ pace in the opening kilometres and was dropped very early, a scenario he did not expect that raises questions about his form just weeks before the Tour de France.
Even so, Visma | Lease a Bike took the win thanks to Matteo Jorgenson’s fastest time, underlining the depth of a roster able to prevail despite losing one of its key leaders.
After the stage, speaking to Sporza, Van Aert admitted the sensations were not as expected and explained he struggled to stay with the group from the start: "On the first climb, the pace was too fast for me. In a team time trial it’s hard to hide."
The Belgian said it felt strange to be forced to let go so soon, especially in a discipline where he has always stood out for his power. Although he stepped onto the podium with his teammates to celebrate the collective victory, he admitted he did not feel like a protagonist. "It’s nice to be on the podium with my teammates, but I don’t feel I was able to contribute much to the team."
A win that shows Visma’s strength
Van Aert was keen to highlight the Dutch squad’s performance, able to win the stage despite setbacks along the course.
Beyond his own fade, Ben Tulett also had issues after a puncture, circumstances that did not prevent the team from setting the day’s best time.
"When you race with riders at such a high level, sometimes things can go wrong. When you see I couldn’t perform at my best, that Ben Tulett punctured, and that we still set the fastest time, it shows how strong they are."
The Belgian particularly praised the work of riders like Matteo Jorgenson, Bruno Armirail, and Edoardo Affini, key pieces in sustaining the team’s output.
The earlier crash is still taking a toll
Van Aert also acknowledged that the crash he suffered before the start of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes affected his build-up, although he expected to feel better. "You don’t count on this, but we have to stay calm and do things right. It’s not pleasant."
The Visma rider said he was aware he would need several days to regain race rhythm, but the outcome of the time trial still surprised him. "I assumed it was going to be a tough week, but I thought I would be more prepared than I showed today."
Optimism despite the setback
Despite the doubts left by this performance, Van Aert avoided dramatizing and stressed that a single day does not necessarily reflect his true condition. "Every day is a snapshot; today wasn’t a good one."
Wout van Aert before stage 1 of the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 2026
With several weeks still to go before the start of the Tour de France, the Belgian remains confident he can continue to build physically and reach the Grande Boucle in the best possible condition, even if his unexpected ride in this time trial has sparked fresh questions about his trajectory.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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