Van Aert is getting fed up all the interviews of the mixed zone without missing a single one with the same tenacity he displayed on the Qwaremont. He should be entitled to be furious, like those riders who paraded in front of journalists, pretending not to recognize their gestures. But the champion is the one who always puts his face on the line and at this moment Van Aert is not avoiding the questions which predictably pierced him. He was the number one favorite and he was even a bit boastful. The team was ready to take the race on his shoulders. Then however on the last climb the legs said enoughWho knows if anything would have changed with a less carefree tactic, without personally repelling the attacks of Alaphilippe and Van der Poel.
When Van der Poel smelled his blood and he sank his teeth on the Qwaremont, the Belgian had to surrenderAnd God only knows how much it cost him to give in… to his friend Mathieu, after finding himself once again in the breakaway with him and another Deceuninck-Quick Step rider. Last year it was Alaphilippe's turn, this time there was Asgreen.
"Ma there are no excuses to look for – he says with a calm voice and various ironic smiles – to win a monument like this you need to be perfect and Today I didn't have this super feeling with running and cyclingI finished sixth, clearly there were other expectations. So there are no excuses».
What happened?
You understand immediately if you have the legs to make a difference and I didn't have them today. I tried to survive, but it wasn't enough.
Have you ever hoped that you could come back, managing the crisis?
The truth? Never, but because I knew it wasn't my normal day. Not like at the Strade Bianche, Where the collapse lasted a few secondsThis time his strength was fading. I don't even know if he might have had a hunger attack.
When did you notice it?
When they disconnected me. But jokes aside, the last Qwaremont was the moment I jumpedI tried to hold on, but you can tell if you can handle the fatigue or if the fatigue is dragging you down.
The final surrender, however, was only seen on the Paterberg.
On the one hand, I was hoping that the guys in front would look at each other, and maybe, if there hadn't been such a strong group behind me, they could have done it. Instead, they just kept going and I tried to resist for a while, to keep third place.The Paterberg was a real fight. And when they caught me, I even risked being left behind. So in the end this sixth place is not even to be thrown away.
Do you think the efforts of cross-country skiing paid off?
This isn't the time for such assessments. I won Ghent, but I wasn't feeling well today. We will have time to analyze everything.
You've done all the interviews and others are waiting for you after us...
It's part of my job, when it goes well and when it goes badlyI accept. Thank you very much, but since they're waiting for me, I think I should go.
