“Yesterday could have been a big moment if Matteo Jorgenson hadn’t crashed” - Wout van Aert rues Visma’s missed Tirreno-Adriatico chance
Cycling
Team Visma | Lease a Bike may only be two stages into Tirreno-Adriatico, but the dramatic gravel finale in San Gimignano has already forced the Dutch squad to reassess their ambitions for the week.
Mathieu van der Poel’s explosive move on the sterrato reshaped the race late on Stage 2, eventually leading to a three-rider sprint for victory between the Dutchman, Isaac del Toro and Giulio Pellizzari. Matteo Jorgenson had been among the riders responding to the decisive acceleration before losing control on the slippery gravel and crashing out of the front group.
Speaking before the start of Stage 3, Wout van Aert acknowledged the incident had turned what might have been a pivotal moment for Visma into a defensive situation.
“We’re here with Matteo, and we have big hopes for the GC,” Van Aert said in conversation with Cycling Pro Net. “Yesterday it would have been a big chance if he didn’t crash. He was probably able to follow Mathieu and the others. Instead of moving up in GC, we had to minimise the losses. That was unfortunate.”
Positioning mistake cost Van Aert his own chance
Van Aert also admitted his own opportunity to contest the stage disappeared before the gravel sector even began. “I actually felt really good yesterday, but I ruined my positioning before the gravel sector, and because of that, I couldn’t make a result,” he explained. “I was disappointed yesterday, but the legs were there.”
Despite the frustration, the Belgian pointed to the overall performance of the team as a sign that the week still holds opportunities. “I think both of us were good, but we hoped for more yesterday, that’s for sure.”
Wout van Aert ahead of stage 2 at the 2026 Tirreno-Adriatico
Sprint chance in Stage 3
Looking ahead to the next stage, Van Aert expects the rolling finale to offer one of the few remaining sprint opportunities in this edition of Tirreno-Adriatico.
“I think only the last stage is the next sprint opportunity after today,” he said. “Tomorrow is also pretty hard, so I expect they’re going to use this chance.”
While the gravel chaos of Stage 2 disrupted Visma’s plans, Van Aert believes the race continues to serve a broader purpose for riders preparing for the biggest objectives of the spring. “I think it’s the perfect preparation for Sanremo,” he said. “We need these kilometres here.”
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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