Only five stages into the 2025 Giro d’Italia, and Team Visma | Lease a Bike has already faced a tough opening week. Much of the pre-race attention had been on Wout van Aert’s return to Grand Tour racing, but a pre-race illness has hindered his performance. After finishing second in stage 1, Van Aert has struggled to find his usual form, while Mads Pedersen has dominated, winning three of the first five stages.
Ahead of stage 6, Van Aert told HLN he won’t be targeting a stage win. Instead, he’ll focus on supporting teammate Olav Kooij, marking a tactical shift for the team as they try to regroup.
“It’s a simpler finish today, but still tricky to time. I think we can play to our strengths. I’m feeling better — yesterday was a step in the right direction. I won’t go for the win today; we’re backing Olav,” Van Aert said.
Though he’s still not back to peak condition, Van Aert is showing signs of improvement. “I felt more positive. It was better than the previous days. If I’d had those same legs as earlier in the race, I would’ve been dropped much sooner. It was still tough, though.”
Visma | Lease a Bike, typically a dominant force, has found itself trailing behind Pedersen and Lidl-Trek during the first week, and the pressure is growing.
“A win always lifts the team,” Van Aert admitted. “It’s been hard not having things go our way, but we’re turning a corner. I’m not here to prove anything — I’m here to improve. Eventually, I’ll show what I can do.”
