'Spur-of-the-moment decision' lands Wout van Aert fourth career podium at Milan-San Remo as he surprises with effort from late crash

Wout van Aert, representing Visma-Lease a Bike, secured a remarkable fourth career podium finish at Milan-San Remo, placing third despite a late-race crash. The Belgian star, who stated his participation was a "spur-of-the-moment decision" after a challenging early season, found himself on the tarmac with approximately 2.5km to go, yet still managed to chase back and claim a top-three spot behind winner Jasper Philipsen and Michael Matthews.

This unexpected result is significant for Van Aert, whose spring campaign has been heavily disrupted by illness and a subsequent lack of race days. Coming into San Remo with minimal competitive mileage, his ability to contend for victory, even after a crash, underscores his immense talent and resilience. It also provides a much-needed morale boost for Visma-Lease a Bike, who have faced their own share of misfortune this season, and positions Van Aert as a formidable, if still slightly undercooked, contender for the upcoming cobbled classics.

Van Aert's podium, salvaged from a crash and a compromised preparation, serves as a stark reminder that even on an off-day, his 'spur-of-the-moment' is still most riders' peak performance.