"It's definitely something that suits me" - Wout van Aert eyeing illusive victory on stage 8

Although his performances have been impressive so far at the 2023 Tour de France, a stage victory is still proving illusive for Wout van Aert. With stage 8 providing an almost ideal finale for the Belgian, could this be the day?

"It's definitely something that suits me," the 28-year-old told Wielerfilts in a post-stage interview before the day's racing got underway. “Today I expect a tough sprint in which the legs will speak. Those last 800 meters are not nothing, so it will be tough.”

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The Jumbo-Visma rider has been there or thereabouts on almost all of the stages in the first week of the race. On stage 7 though, van Aert was notable for his absence, deciding not to take part in the sprint, instead sitting up and saving his legs.

“My legs did hurt, yes. That is why it was nice to be able to sit up straight again for a day and not have to be busy sprinting," van Aert explains. His big rival for the victory will most likely be Alpecin-Deceuninck, through either Jasper Philipsen or Mathieu van der Poel. "They have two pawns to play, but of course Jasper has the green jersey. So if he is there, he will sprint along anyway.”

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