“Yesterday could have been a big moment if Matteo Jorgenson hadn’t crashed” - Wout van Aert rues Visma’s missed Tirreno-Adriatico chance

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.”

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.”

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.”