Wout van Aert cherishes 'priceless' Paris Tour de France win despite putting Olympic flight in jeopardy
The Belgian worries all the interviews and podium ceremonies could thwart his flight to Tokyo just four hours after finishing the Tour
Wout van Aert not only disrupted what would have been a fairytale finish to Mark Cavendish's comeback Tour de France, the Manx sprinter needing one more win to take him to a record-breaking 35 stage wins, but the Belgian national champion may have also put a spanner in the works of his own travel plans.
Like many other riders, Van Aert was planning on taking a flight out to Tokyo for the upcoming Olympic Games a mere four hours after finishing on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, and now faces a rush to get through the ceremonial duties that come with winning a Tour stage in order to get to Charles de Gaulle airport in time.
"I guess I've put myself in trouble because I've got to catch a flight tonight and all these interviews will take a while I guess. We'll see if I can get there," Van Aert said after the finish.
Should he make it, he'll have the whole long-haul flight to let what he's achieved this Tour sink in. Victory on the Mont Ventoux stage, the stage 20 time trial won and now victorious on the Champs-Élysées. The last rider to achieve wins on the flat, in the mountains and against the clock in the same Tour was Bernard Hinault in 1979, a feat also accomplished by Eddy Merckx a few years earlier.
"No actually not, this Tour has just been amazing," Van Aert said as to whether he could believe he'd just won in Paris. "[This Tour has] been such a rollercoaster, but to finish it off like this, phwoar.
"It's definitely not a pity I went for it today because a victory like this is priceless. Thanks to my incredible, small team [only four Jumbo-Visma riders have finished the race] and Mike Teunissen delivered me in perfect position."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Van Aert says that the altered finish line, having been moved further up out of the corner, gave riders like him a better chance of taking the victory.
"There was more chance for a team like us to still come up in the corner and I was fully confident that Mikey was going to deliver me in the right position," Van Aert explained. "I just had to hold his wheel and it was just a world-class lead out today, hats off [to him]."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Jonny was Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor until 2022.
I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
'I don’t talk to myself in the mirror, but sometimes if I cannot sleep, I imagine a race situation': Tadej Pogačar lifts the lid on his physical and mental training
World Champion and GiroTour double victor explains the key performance changes behind his record-breaking year
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
After the turbulence of 2024 - can the bike industry survive another wet winter?
The mantra ‘Survive to 2025’ was bandied about last year - but could wet weather spell more trouble ahead for cycling?
By Undercover Mechanic Published
-
Rider airbags being considered as part of new safety measures from UCI
World governing body still undecided on radios, gear restrictions, regulations surrounding rim height and handlebar widths and wider rules in sprint finishes
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Changing the final Tour de France stage in Paris is an exciting prospect but I think it should be for one year only
The race's organisers were reported to be exploring the possibility of bringing the cobbled streets of Montmartre into the race’s final stage in Paris this summer
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tour de France expected to remain on free-to-air TV in the UK from 2026
ITV deal runs out in 2025 after Warner Bros. Discovery signed exclusivity deal with race organiser
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tour de France final stage could copy Paris Olympics road race with cobbled climb
Organiser reportedly considering adapting final stage to include three ascents of the Butte de Montmartre in Paris before the traditional Champs-Élysées finish
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Remco Evenepoel almost 'back on the rollers' after being doored by Belgian post vehicle
Multiple Olympic champion aiming to return to training on the road in February and will tentatively begin riding indoors at the weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It used to annoy me when people said 'enjoy it', now cycling is my job, I understand': Oscar Onley on his rise through the ranks
The 22-year-old talks through his beginnings as a cyclist, turning pro with Picnic PostNL and what’s next in 2025.
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'He’s at the age now where he's coming into his prime' - Where does Tadej Pogačar go next after a year of unequalled domination?
Becoming the first male rider since 1987 to complete cycling’s hallowed triple crown earns the Slovenian this year’s prize. Tom Thewlis salutes a spectacular year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Jasper Philipsen: 'All eyes will be on us at the Classics but we will be ready'
Milan-San Remo winner says Alpecin-Decuninck will be prepared to have a target on their back next year
By Tom Thewlis Published