After winning four consecutive stages for Dutch rider Olav Kooij, this time the Jumbo-Visma team took a different tack. Not for the most part of the bumpy 192-kilometre stage at Felixstowe, as, as in recent days, team-mates Van Aert and Kooij were once again leading the chase for the three men who had fled earlier, including again Abram Stockman. That’s what Kooij and friends look like. to aim for many more sprints.

But Jumbo-Visma played a different game in the final. However, the Dutch team initially had to give chase after going the wrong way at the final ten kilometer roundabout and ending up in the back of the peloton. The black-and-yellow train was able to make up for this and lead the peloton in the final kilometer, apparently in a new attempt to lead Kooij to victory.

New leader

But going into the final kilometre, Jumbo-Visma appeared to have a very different tack: Kooij made room for the corner for Van Aert, who had been his sprint pilot in recent days. The Kempen resident made a good opening, which he managed to keep to the finish despite the high winds. Van Aert won by three seconds, England’s Ethan Vernon and Holland’s Danny van Poppel running into second and third places. Kooij ended up not running.

Due to the difference he had in the finish, Van Aert also became the new leader in the general classification. All of the sprinters trailed behind, three seconds behind. The UK tour continues into Sunday. The sprinters may be in for another turn Friday in the bumpy 146-kilometre stage between Southend-on-Sea and Harlow. The last two stages of the weekend have been hilly.

Van Aert: “Cycling is boring and predictable”

“I’m very happy,” Van Aert enjoyed his third win of the season. “Making plans like this is always very difficult. And if you can in this way it is certainly very satisfying. This is another great day for the team. I am very proud of this.”

Jumbo-Visma has won in the sprint with Olav Kooij for the last four days, but played differently this time. Kooij left the gap when Van Aert came out. “Last night, when we were discussing today’s exit and looking at the final corner, this plan came up,” said Van Aert.

“At first I threw it on the table as a joke cut idea. And then we started thinking about it. We tried something new. This is great cycling. These sports are often boring and predictable. Then it’s nice to be able to spice things up.”

Van Aert is also the leader of the new classification in the Tour of Britain, which runs until Sunday. He has a three second lead over all the named sprinters.