Wout van Aert's Promising Return: Third Place Finish at Tour of Norway

Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert, recovering from an injury sustained earlier this year, has shown promising signs of his return to form at the Tour of Norway. Van Aert finished third in the final stage of the race, a significant milestone in his comeback.

Van Aert's performance is particularly noteworthy, considering this was his first race since a heavy crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen in April, which ended his spring season prematurely. Despite a quiet start to the Tour of Norway and another crash in stage 2, Van Aert managed to secure two top-5 finishes, including a podium finish on the final day.

Reflecting on his performance, Van Aert stated, "Confidence has grown. There is still a difference between having the right ambitions and not making any effort. I wanted to throw myself and I'm happy that I succeeded in the last two days." He added, "A lot of uncertainty has been removed. I felt myself getting better and that was what I hoped for. Confidence has grown. The most important thing is that I had no pain."

Van Aert's teammate Bart Lemmen also had a strong showing, securing second place overall in the general classification behind winner Axel Laurance of Alpecin-Deceuninck. The final stage saw multiple attacks, with Van Aert being part of a group of 15 riders that broke away from the peloton. Despite being boxed in 300 meters from the finish, Van Aert managed to secure third place in the sprint finish.

Van Aert's performance at the Tour of Norway has raised hopes that he might be able to race in the Tour de France, scheduled to start in late June. However, his official calendar does not currently include any upcoming races. Van Aert has expressed more confidence about hitting peak form in time for the Olympic Games in Paris, where he aims to compete in both the road race and the individual time trial.

Van Aert's third-place finish in the final stage of the Tour of Norway is a promising sign of his recovery and return to competitive form. His performance suggests that he is on track to achieve his goal of racing in the Tour de France, and his growing confidence and lack of pain are positive indicators for his future endeavors.

Key Takeaways

• Wout van Aert finishes 3rd in Tour of Norway's final stage, a promising comeback from injury.
• Van Aert's performance marks his first race since a heavy crash in April.
• He secured two top-5 finishes, including a podium finish, despite a quiet start.
• Van Aert expresses growing confidence and no pain, raising hopes for Tour de France.
• He aims to compete in both road race and time trial at the Paris Olympic Games.