Wout van Aert has one final shot to break his three-year Tour de France stage win drought, and he’s targeting Sunday’s finale in Paris. The Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider attempted to join the breakaway during Stage 20 but couldn’t hold his position. Instead, the victory went to Kaden Groves, leaving Van Aert with just one more stage to secure the elusive win. This year’s final stage deviates from the usual Champs-Élysées finish and includes a Montmartre climb, a feature that could favor Van Aert.
“It was a tough start again, and early on I just didn’t have the legs I was hoping for,” Van Aert told HLN. “I gave it a few tries but couldn’t manage to get into the break.” He described a frustrating middle section of the race: “About halfway through, I ended up in a group stuck between the peloton and the leaders.”
“But because most of the guys in that group already had teammates up front, we were stranded in no-man’s land,” he said. Van Aert also voiced criticism of the race design, adding, “This is the biggest race in the world, and naturally riders will sprint for a podium spot. I think the organizers got it wrong by placing that turn within the final 500 meters.”
Despite the challenges, Van Aert remains optimistic. “I’m actually more motivated for this last stage than I was before. With Montmartre, it’ll feel more like a classic race. I expect something short and explosive — which should work in my favor.”
The unusual finale may disrupt the usual sprint dynamics and enhance his chances — though Van Aert is staying cautious about the overall competition. “Let’s just hope Pogacar doesn’t decide to mix things up. (laughs) He doesn’t seem that motivated anymore, but with him, you never really know.”