Van Aert started very strong and entered the field in first position. “That was unexpected”, the former world champion explained afterward. “Of course, I wanted a good start, but I struggled to clip into my pedal. I thought I had a poor start because of that, but I managed to find a gap on the left side.”

As the race progressed, Van Aert enjoyed the support of the crowd. “In the opening lap, I led the race for quite some time. The noise was incredible. It was amazing to experience that again. I’ve really missed that feeling. I absolutely enjoyed my return”, Van Aert said.

After a strong opening lap, Van Aert couldn’t keep up with a surge from Mathieu van der Poel. “I tried to follow, but it was just a bit too much for me at that moment. Mathieu and Laurens Sweeck were stronger at that point. Luckily, I had a good partner in Thibau Nys. We worked well together and managed to catch Laurens again”, Van Aert analyzed.

“A podium finish was definitely possible today”, Van Aert said with a hint of frustration. “In the final lap, I gave it my all to secure second or third place. Unfortunately, I crashed in one of the corners, and after that, I had no chance of making the podium. That’s disappointing, but I’m still happy with my first race of the season and how my legs felt. It’s a positive sign for what’s to come.”

Earlier in the day, Imogen Wolff secured an impressive third place in the women’s race. “The start wasn’t flawless, but I managed to stay calm. I then put in a strong performance, which resulted in a third place. It feels great to see all the hard work pay off with a podium finish, especially in a big race during such an important part of the season. This gives me a lot of confidence heading into the upcoming races”, said the British rider.