“It may sound like a cliché, but it’s a huge luxury to ride in such a strong team,” a delighted Van Aert said afterwards. “With Bruno and Steven, we have two of the biggest engines in the peloton. When they take control at the front, it hurts everyone, especially on a day like today.”
The pace was high from the very start. As the riders approached the finish in Córdoba, the pace increased and several groups began to form. Van Aert stayed attentive near the front and patiently waited for his moment: “It’s true that I’m riding with confidence, especially after my victory on Friday. It makes it a bit easier to just go for it and not overthink things,” the Belgian explained.