"I want to dedicate this victory to the people who continued to believe in me" - Wout van Aert benefits from Jumbo-Visma's power towards Coppa Bernocchi triumph

Wout van Aert has often performed strongly but then failed to take the victory this season. However that was not the case today, at the Coppa Bernocchi the Belgian rider sprinted to a much needed victory before closing out the season this week.

“It's a nice feeling, especially after a season in which I often missed out on winning,” van Aert said in a post-race interview. “It's nice to throw our hands in the air again and win, especially after such a team performance." Besides the E3 Saxo Classic, he only took a stage and GC win at the Tour of Britain this year. He has had great form and rides all season long, however it was only the third time he could lift his arms today in success on the road.

Van Aert saw his teammates Jan Tratnik and Tiesj Benoot split and help control the race in the final kilometers, the Dutch team was dominant and did not let anyone get away in the final kilometers, Soudal - Quick-Step tried with Julian Alaphilippe specially. In the final sprint it would be hard to match van Aert and he confirmed his status as the man to beat.

"I want to dedicate this victory to the people who continued to believe in me," he concludes. "My family, my trainer Marc and the team. In this race, my seven teammates were prepared to control the race from the start. Then it is very nice that we can complete it this way.”