"A flat tire ruined that result" - Wout van Aert laments bad luck pushing him out of Antwerp World Cup battle

Wout van Aert made his return to cyclocross today but as has happened in the past, his first race was more marked by bad positioning and luck then by his performance. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike rode home in seventh place on the World Cup Antwerp, a result he doesn't feel represents what he was able to do.

Van Aert started a row behind Mathieu van der Poel, but was able to catch his wheel in the first minutes of the race. However, as the World Champion moved up through the field, van Aert couldn't hold his wheel, and was in no position to respond to the Dutchman's acceleration on lap 2 that created the winning gap.

"This sport is as hard as it's always been. Suffered from the first minute," van Aert shared in a post-race interview. He was disappointed with the outcome of the race. Although he did not have the legs to contest the victory, a podium position was possible and he was in the mix with the likes of Laurens Sweeck, Joris Nieuwenhuis and Tibor del Grosso in the first laps of the race.

But on lap 5 he would suffer a mishap that would take away a lot of time and his rhythm. "Think I was in the mix for the podium but a flat tire ruined that result. But overall a good feeling. Straight after the first pit zone there were a few tricky sections to puncture, one moment not concentrating enough and I hit the front wheel and it immediately went flat".

He managed to ride inside the Top10 throughout the rest of the race, but the lack of racing in the discipline was visible, as in a few moments his technique was not the best, but he did not have the legs to move up the field for a second occasion.