"With the rain, that was smart" - Wout van Aert takes it easy on Tirreno-Adriatico time-trial

Wout van Aert was one of the big favourites for today's opening time-trial at Tirreno-Adriatico, but the heavy rain saw the Jumbo-Visma rider take no risks and ride into a modest result.

“I rode steady, without taking any risks. With the rain, that was smart," he told Algemeen Dagblad. "The course was indeed straight ahead, but if you ride in such a heavy [rain] shower, you always have a disadvantage. We'll see, but I'm happy with the feeling."

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“Today the plan was to get ready for the rest of the week in the time trial. That worked out well. Nothing has changed for me. This is the only time trial on my schedule this spring, so we made a conscious decision to wait until after Roubaix to see if we can make a profit with a new position," he continued. "Of course there will be time trials in the summer, which I make a goal of.”

Van Aert will have opportunities in the coming days, with sprints and hilly days on the course of the Italian race.