Wout van Aert: "This second place even feels like a reward"

Jumbo-Visma were one of the dominant teams this spring, and at today's Paris-Roubaix the ambitions were of another strong victory and although it didn't happen, Wout van Aert has returned to the peloton in style as he finished in second place.

“I am very surprised by this second place. I'm very content. This second place even feels like a reward. Of course I want to win this race, but after the events of the past few weeks I can only be happy with this," van Aert said in a post-race interview. After having been infected with Covid-19 just before the Tour des Flandres, there were question marks deep into the run-up to the French monument. Despite having shrugged out ambitions multiple times in the days leading up to the race, he was on the road the undisputed leader as he stormed to a second place.

Van Aert was between the many favourites who were caught out in the split 40 kilometers into the race. At a point, 1:30 minutes behind the front peloton which had eventual leader Dylan van Baarle coordinating his team to keep the gap, however the Belgian champion mentions that there was never true panic behind: “We didn't have to panic or pace because we were with four strong guys at the front. We have remained calm and have chosen the perfect position for the start of the final."

Van Aert eventually joined up to the leading peloton, but as many others, he suffered several punctures which hindered his chances towards the finale. He saw eventual race winner Dylan van Baarle attack in the final 30 kilometers, however when he responded it was too late. With an organized chase, van Aert found himself in the fight for the podium finally, and sprinted to second place leading in the chasing group.

“In the final I wanted to go for it, so I accelerated a few times. Van Baarle was one of the strongest and you know that he rarely stops. I don't need to be disappointed, because I did not expect this in advance. Of course I started as someone with a free role, but we had to wait and see how it would go. I actually felt pretty good from the start," he concluded.

It was, despite the mishaps, a very successful season for Wout van Aert as he packed in wins at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and E3 Saxo Bank Classic, and his classics campaign is not yet over as he will be at the start of Liège-Bastogne-Liège next week.