Wout van Aert modest into Olympic Games time-trial: "I have to be honest and say that there are guys who are better than me"

Wout van Aert is racing the Olympic Games' time-trial today but he admits that aiming for a medal or victory will be very complicated. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider will actually be racing in the double disk wheel time-trial bike which should be an interesting sight and gamble for the Belgian, but with the quality field in Paris today, he believes he stands better chances in the road race.

"Two years ago, I would have aimed for victory, but now I have to be honest and say that there are guys who are better than me in the time trial. Remco, Ganna, Tarling and other riders are very strong in this exercise. On Saturday, I just want to be proud of myself and have no regrets," van Aert told RTBF. What that would be is something that will have to be measured by van Aert himself.

Last year at the World Championships he was fifth behind the trio he previously mentioned and also Brandon McNulty. The course in Stirling, with longer distances and some climbing, suited him better than Paris, whilst his form was likely also slightly better than what he showed now throughout the Tour de France - where he was not able to contest for a top result against the clock.

But the work he's done throughout the past weeks will also have some positive effect eventually, possibly already today. In the road race, despite the chaotic factor that will be the small teams, hilly course and extra long race, van Aert believes he stands a better chance. "With the Tour de France in my legs and an extra week of recovery, I have a better chance of winning a medal in the road race, even if it is difficult to know how the race will go," he concluded.