"I wondered whether continuing the Giro was a good idea" - Wout van Aert admits doubts during Giro d'Italia's opening weekend

Wout van Aert has taken a glorious win to close off the first week of the Giro d'Italia, the perfect finale to a months-long drought of victories. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike may not have been here already have suffering through the first days of the race and even questioning if he should have stayed or not.

"Mentally, I feel very different. A week ago, I wondered whether continuing the Giro was a good idea. We certainly talked about that," van Aert admitted in a press conference, as reported by Cyclingnews. "After the first rest day, I got the feeling and signals that I could make it. But stage 4 was really disappointing. I was tired and had bad legs, while it was an easy stage".

On stage 5, which on paper would be a day where he could win if he had good form, his legs started to feel better. "It had to turn around on the stage to Matera. That also happened: stage five was 'normal' suffering. It didn't 'all' hurt anymore. It was the first time that I reached the finish with a good feeling."

From there on it's been a steady growth, but without results until this Sunday's chaotic stage into Siena. Not only did the Belgian thrive with positioning but also climbing on a day where form was key above all. He took the stage win ahead of an equally impressive Isaac del Toro who let his GC rivals - literally - in the dust.

"Growing in a Grand Tour is a nice saying, but it is difficult to put your finger on whether that is really true or whether you break down less quickly than others. I think I am getting better, but I do not feel so good that I suddenly have my best legs again," he admits however. "Tomorrow is already the next opportunity to get a nice result, try to go for the stage win as well, maybe". 

The time-trial is a discipline where van Aert usually does well, but after the disappointing ITT in the first week it's hard to gauge where he will be able to finish this time around. "We'll see how I'm recovered, even though everybody has a rest day today, there's no need to explain yesterday that I went really deep to get this win. In a grand tour, TT in the second part is usually about freshness and a bit less on the TT qualities."

A clear favourite emerges in front of his eyes: "In Albania, the time trial didn't go as I wanted, but I think I know why. Tuesday is really one for specialists, very straightforward. Only the start in Lucca is technical. I'm not starting with doubts, but Tarling is the favourite, because this course suits him even better. It will be difficult to beat him."

"It's always nice to win just before, because it gives u a bit more time to sink in and enjoy. That's definitely what we did. I'll keep my feet on the ground, but I can look forward to the rest of the Giro with a very good feeling," he concluded.