'Not the smartest thing to do' –Wout van Aert rues another missed opportunity at Tirreno-Adriatico

MARTINSICURO, ITALY - MARCH 12: (L-R) Wout van Aert of Belgium and Matteo Jorgenson of United States and Team Visma | Lease a Bike compete during the 61st Tirreno-Adriatico 2026, Stage 4 a 213km stage from Tagliacozzo to Martinsicuro / #UCIWT / on March 12, 2026 in Martinsicuro, Italy. (Photo by Tim de Waele/Getty Images).

Wout van Aert is still searching for his first victory of 2026, with the Belgian coming the closest yet to the win on Thursday's stage 4 of Tirreno-Adriatico.

He and his Visma-Lease a Bike teammate Matteo Jorgenson worked in tandem late on the hilly 213km stage, with the American often in control of the select lead group at the head of the race on the road to Martinsicuro.