Wout van Aert made a strong showing in the first stage of the Giro d'Italia, finishing second despite battling illness leading up to the race. Though his performance exceeded his expectations, he felt disappointment in missing the pink jersey by mere inches. Van Aert recounted how he needed mental fortitude to push through physical struggles during the climb and emphasized the importance of taking every opportunity in such races. His teammate Wilco Kelderman played a crucial role in helping him maintain his pace towards the finish, showcasing the team's support and tactical strategy.
Van Aert expressed, "It doesn't feel like a victory, but of course it's a better result than I expected the last couple of days. I have to be happy with it."
Reflecting on his efforts, Van Aert said, "There's only one or a few opportunities to take this pink jersey, so that's why I really wanted to try it today."
He remarked, "I didn't feel really good, actually, I really had to fight and tell myself a lot of times that it was possible."
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