"I won't go for it for the next three stages" - Wout van Aert to switch to support role after missing out on stage 2 victory at the Tour de Suisse

After finishing third on the opening individual time-trial at the 2023 Tour de Suisse, van Aert had to once again settle for the third step on the podium after being edged out in a sprint finish to stage 2.

"I started a bit too early, I'm pretty sure of that," said Wout van Aert, who opened up the sprint first whit over 300m still to go, only to see first Biniam Girmay and then Arnaud Demare overtake him, in his post-stage interview with In de Leiderstrui. “It was very chaotic and when I saw some space I went on, but it was still more than three hundred meters. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. If no one sprints with me, then I can win it!"

In the next few days however, van Aert revealed how his role will change within the Jumbo-Visma team. “If I can compete in a number of stages, which I consider myself capable of, then I think I can win that points jersey. That's why I also went for it during the intermediate sprints," he explains. Mainly though it's domestique duty for Wilco Kelderman.

"I won't go for it for the next three stages, then we'll see. I will support Wilco as best as possible," van aert continues. "He is very well and can go for a good classification. That is the main goal, and for me it is of course a matter of getting through it."