'I didn't really doubt it' - Van Aert reacts to stunning Tour of Denmark photo finish reversal

The Visma | Lease a Bike rider was initially beaten by Jensen Plowright (Alpecin-Premier Tech) in the bunch sprint at the end of stage 2 in Skive. Plowright celebrated after producing a perfectly timed bike throw, while Van Aert appeared to have missed out by the narrowest of margins.

But after a delay of around 10 minutes, the commissaires reversed the initial result and awarded the victory to Van Aert.

“I really had the feeling that Jensen [Plowright] had passed me,” Van Aert told VTM. “At that moment, I could not judge whether it had been just in time or just too late.

“Because he was so certain, I assumed the result had already been checked. When I arrived here, I didn't really doubt it anymore until they showed me the photo.”

The first image failed to provide a clear answer, but a sharper version eventually showed that Van Aert had held on. 

Even the Belgian, who is no stranger to narrow finishes and was involved in the much debated photo finish with Tom Pidcock at the 2021 Amstel Gold Race, described the circumstances in Skive as unusual.

“It was difficult to see the difference in the first photo,” he said. “When they managed to get a clearer image, it turned out that I had just been faster. It was definitely a special experience.”

Van Aert had launched his sprint from distance after positioning himself on the wheel of Unibet Rose Rockets rider Lukas Kubis in the final kilometre. His acceleration took him to the front, but Plowright closed quickly after coming off the wheel of Alpecin-Premier Tech teammate Jonas Geens..

“The others were so convinced that I thought the jury had already made its decision,” Van Aert said. “I assumed it must have been clearer than I had realised. Fortunately for me, they had to look at it properly, and in the end the decision went my way.”

The victory capped a flawless return to racing for Van Aert, who had also claimed the opening stage after an elbow infection forced him to miss the Tour de France. The Belgian admitted that winning both of the first two stages had surpassed even his own expectations.

“I did not expect to come here and win twice immediately,” he said. “Things are obviously going very well, and I am very satisfied.”