“I crashed with 9km to go but the team brought me back. Amund Groendahl Jansen put me in a perfect position even though I got boxed. He’s very strong. He was my team-mate before at Jumbo-Visma. He went full gas for me. I took a lot of wind and my legs were tired but I still had enough to sprint to the line. Wout van Aert always joke, saying that if you are not sure of having won, you still claim the victory and you celebrate. That’s what I did. I understood I won from the sport directors screaming in the car. Then I found my father. He follows me for three weeks but usually I don’t see him and today he was there, right in front of me. It was special to share that moment with him and make him happy too. My family supported me greatly after what happened [the crash at the 2020 Tour de Pologne that resulted in a ban for him]. My new team has put a lot of faith in me and a great train to lead me out. Every victory at the Tour de France is special, not only this one.”
