“It was a good test for the legs today" - Wout van Aert upbeat after destructive Tirreno-Adriatico ride

Wout van Aert showed once again on stage six of Tirreno-Adriatico just how destructive he can be when he rides at the front of the peloton with purpose, helping Jumbo-Visma teammate Primoz Roglic extend his race lead.

“It was a good test for the legs today. It's hard to say where I stand, but I'm happy with the feeling," said van Aert in his post race interview. "I was the right man to open the race, but I just couldn't follow in the last lap. Still, I am very satisfied. I'll take that with me."

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So brutal was the acceleration made by the peloton when the 28-year-old Belgian took to the front of the peloton, Julian Alaphilippe pulled to the side of the road and signalled his disgust with a waft of his arm directed towards van Aert.

“We knew the pressure was going to come on us. There were still a lot of people short in the standings," explains van Aert on the reasoning behind the acceleration. "If we didn't try there, we could jump after everyone all the time. The situation changed quickly after that when Wilco Kelderman fell."

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