"There are 200 riders here, 150 of whom want to get in that breakaway" - Wout van Aert describes titanic breakaway battle

Stage 8 of the Giro d'Italia saw the first proper breakaway action, a day where most knew the front group would succeed and tried to be in the right move. For about an hour Wout van Aert was part of that group, and he described the incredibly difficult start.

“It took a long time for the breakaway to come together. I tried, but it wasn’t enough to really get ahead," the Belgian shared with Nieuwsblad. "From the moment we got to mountainous terrain, I had already decided in my head that I wouldn’t try anymore".

"You just knew that a lot of people wanted to get in that breakaway. On these roads with a lot of headwind, it was also ungrateful to get ahead early. I soon realized that it would only work on that climb. So my attempts were a bit against my better judgment.”

Van Aert was very active and so was all of Visma, with Edoardo Affini often covering or initiating moves; whilst Dylan van Baarle and Wilco Kelderman were also present and eventually managed to be in the winning breakaway.

"There are 200 riders here, 150 of whom want to get in that breakaway, so it makes sense that people jump on each other’s wheel if someone wants to escape. I would do that too. I just didn’t succeed," the Belgian admits. "In the end, it will have been the men with the best legs who got ahead”.

Ultimately it would've been hard for van Aert with his current form to win on the day, taking into consideration how much difference the climbs made. Visma nevertheless rode to a second place on the road with Wilco Kelderman, but just missed out on the win on the eve of a crucial day where supporting Simon Yates will be the priority.