"Wout also knows that there will be a World Championships after the Tour" - Belgian national coach Sven Vanthourenhout confident in World Championships goal

Wout van Aert has made it very clear that the World Championships will be a big goal this summer. The green jersey at the Tour de France will hence not be part of his objectives, and he will race the Tour conservatively thinking of a possible rainbow jersey two weeks after in Glasgow.

"It was the first time I had seen Wout like this. I met him at the Roeselare criterium and he was a real wreck. But I'm not afraid that's going to happen again," Belgian national coach Sven Vanthourenhout told Het Nieuwslbad, recalling how the Jumbo-Visma rider felt after completing a highly successful but fatiguing Grand Boucle last year. "It is logical that he will try to win stages again. But green is no longer a priority."

Van Aert has indeed confirmed that he will aim to win stages, likely in the hilly days and not the pure bunch sprints, and support Jonas Vingegaard's dream of a second yellow jersey. He admitted that improving on 2022 was unrealistic, there he won three stages - including a solo victory in the yellow jersey, whilst the team won six with three different riders and won both general and points classifications - withstanding the many attacks of Tadej Pogacar.

"Wout also knows that there will be a World Championships after the Tour. Mentally, that makes a world of difference," Vanthourenhout, who also guides the Belgian during the cyclocross season, added. "Last year he arrived in Paris and was allowed to let go completely. If Wout comes out of the Tour in good health, he will be fine towards the World Championships."