Wout Van Aert reveals he also hoped Sepp Kuss would win the Vuelta: "He deserves it after all that work"

Wout van Aert is one of the top favorites at the European Time Trial Championships in Emmen on Wednesday. Van Aert's preparation did not go smoothly due to physical problems but his teammates' performances in Spain gave him some extra motivation.

When the Vuelta came up, Van Aert clearly got a look of amusement. His team swept everyone into a pile.

"That makes you proud, even though I was not there myself. It is a unique achievement," said Van Aert, who does not want to draw a parallel between his gesture in Gent-Wevelgem and the Vuelta.

"Giving away has a negative connotation. We have simply shown that winning together is not an empty saying or a marketing stunt. It is the way we want to race. And Sepp earned that position himself. I also hoped that he would win. He deserves it after all that work."