While most riders and especially the fans went home extremely satisfied yesterday, there was one rider who was extremely disappointed. Wout van Aert was the big favorite. The question before the race wasn’t if he was going to win, but with how many minutes. Yet the 20-year old star had to settle for third place.

After the race, van Aert shared his thoughts with Sporza reporters.

“The course here was completely honest. The best rider won today and I was only the third best rider. The race started out as I planned, I managed to drop all my competitors. Yet, I felt the affects of my efforts in the first two rounds immediately.”

“After my mechanical problems, something broke inside of me and I never had the feeling ever again during the next four rounds that I could win this race. I managed to come back to the front, but something was missing since then. There were so many fans alongside the course and I let them affect my performance after the mechanical problems. I should have never let that happen. I am very disappointed.”

Van Aert was also asked about the upcoming world championships in Tabor. The Vastgoedservice – Golden Palace rider has yet to decide whether he will contest the championship with the elite riders or with the espoirs.

“I will make a decision this week. But first I have to digest this result.”