"It's always lame to make excuses" - No regrets for Wout van Aert after taking bronze medal at European Championships

Wout van Aert was somewhat disappointed to only take home a bronze medal from the European Championships individual time-trial but in his post-race interview refused to make any excuses.

"It's always lame to make excuses. I knew how fast I had to ride,” said the Belgian, refusing to blame the fact that he has been struggling with illness recently and the fact Nathan Van Hooydonck had been very much on his mind. “Everything was close together at the first intermediate point. I started as I should, but it was not possible to continue."

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In the end it was 19-year-old Welsh sensation Joshua Tarling who took the win in dominant fashion by over 40 seconds with last year's winner Stefan Bissegger in second and van Aert in third. “The legs decided in the last part, Joshua and Stefan were better there,” explains van Aert. “I'm happy that I feel healthy again. Normally that last part is my strongest part, but that wasn't this time. That also says something."

“I still have a few days left," he concludes, casting an eye towards the finale of his season. "I felt good in the Tour of Britain and the motivation is certainly still there. We also drive with a strong team, so there is plenty of reason to believe in it.”

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🇪🇺 #Drenthe2023 Satisfied with bronze! 😊

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