"I'm no longer among the fastest Belgians" - Frustrated Wout van Aert denied by Milan Fretin in contentious sprint finale at 2025 Volta ao Algarve

Cofidis' Milan Fretin took the win on stage 4 of the 2025 Volta ao Algarve. One of the riders denied in the finale was Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Wout van Aert, for whom his team had done much work throughout the day. The question raised by many though, is whether or not Fretin passed Van Aert legally in the sprint to the line?

As the riders upped the pace on the slightly uphill finish, Fretin did seem to cut across Van Aert, hindering the Visma rider's capabilities to sprint at full pelt. The race jury seemingly didn't agree though, as Fretin's victory has held up under review. "I still have to watch it back, but I did feel that he passed me," Van Aert admitted to Eurosport post-stage. "I thought I was in a good position for the last corner, but the lead-out then went off the lead."

Nevertheless, Van Aert isn't looking to place blame, as he told Belgian media Sporza. “A gap was created and I had to sprint for a very long time afterwards. But in the end I just wasn't strong enough in the sprint. Hats off to Fretin. If you can win on a finish like that. In any case, I'm no longer among the fastest Belgians. Even though it was tough, it has to be a bit tougher for me, so that the other sprinters have to let go,” he assessed.

Read also

Milan Fretin defies Meeus & Ganna to win uphill sprint on stage 4 of the 2025 Volta ao Algarve

"I decided not to overtake him at the finish line" - João Almeida held himself back to reward teammate Christen with breakthrough Algarve win

Stage 4 - 2025 Volta ao Algarve

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