Van Aert also secured second place in the general classification after an excellent week in the Italian race. He also won the points jersey.

It was Van Aert's second stage victory this Tirreno-Adriatico. In the first stage he was already the fastest in the bunch sprint.

Van Aert reacted elated after his new victory. "I am very happy with this victory and with my second place in the general classification. This was the ideal scenario for today. We rode around yesterday with this day in mind already. It's great to end the week like this. I am getting better and better at this discipline every year. Last winter we did a lot to improve our time trial. It gives a lot of confidence that I can win in the first time trial of the year. The field was very strong. Almost all top time trialists were at the start here. I felt very good this week in the Tirreno."

The leader of Team Jumbo-Visma did not hide his classification ambitions. "This was the first time I went for the GC in a stage race. I am only beaten by the winner of the Tour de France. So I can say it is not a bad start of this experiment. We will try this more often in the future. For now the classics are the main goal. I am looking forward to competing for wins in the various monuments. I know from last year that I recover pretty well after a tough race. That gives me confidence going into Milan-San Remo this Saturday. I will try to defend my title, but I am not the only favourite."