Wout van Aert was unable to continue his sprint to the line of the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Amorebieta and Bayonne on Monday, because he touched the winner Jasper Philipsen, who staggered, as well as spectators massed against the barriers, he explained. “I was well positioned behind Jasper, I wanted to pass him on the right side where I had started my sprint and at one point we bumped into each other a bit and I also hit a spectator on the other side “said the Belgian at the foot of his team’s coach. “So I lost my momentum and had to cut my sprint fifty yards from the line,” he continued.
“The right side was the most direct, defended the winner. When you are in the lead, you try to take the shortest route (…) If the finish line had been straight, there would have been no discussion. Was this a lawful Philipsen move? “It’s hard to say and I also think it’s not for me to judge,” evacuated Wout van Aert, nine-time stage winner in the Great Loop. “Compared to yesterday, I am relaxed”, smiled “WVA”. After his second place the day before in San Sebastian, he had smashed a can on the ground in rage, deprived of victory by the attack of Frenchman Victor Lafay at the kilometer.
Images that can give the impression of tension between Wout van Aert, luxury teammate of Jonas VIngegaard, and the defending champion, within Jumbo-Visma, “Jonas could perhaps have helped to take someone back, commented Van Aert Monday morning. He was the first to recognize it. “There is no animosity contrary to what I think I hear, denied Christophe Laporte. These are created stories. Everything is fine, everyone is getting along very well.” “He came here to win, he had goals at the start of the Tour. Inevitably, he is disappointed, continued the Frenchman. The team does its maximum for Jonas, its maximum for Wout and after that it works or not.