"Jasper should be happy that someone like Peter Sagan wasn't there" - Wout van Aert confused by lack of relegation for Philipsen in stage 3 sprint

The final few hundred meters of stage 3 at the 2023 Tour de France proved incredibly dramatic and somewhat controversial. After a lengthy check by the race jury, Jasper Philipsen's victory was upheld, much to the confusion of Wout van Aert.

Van Aert felt his sprint had been impeded by the Alpecin-Deceuninck sprinter. The race jury did not agree however. "Jasper should be happy that someone like Peter Sagan wasn't there because then he would have had a beech," the Belgian said to Sporza prior to the racing beginning on stage 4, referencing the Slovakian who has famously been involved in similar crashes in the past.

Not a pure sprinter, van Aert decided he'd be safer to sit up and roll across the line. Had that been someone like the aforementioned Peter Sagan however, it may have been a different matter.

The Jumbo-Visma rider was also rather critical of the actual layout of the course. With a final bend coming within the final few hundred metres. “I find it strange that yesterday's finish has been approved. Especially that finish itself is debatable and I think that is why no decision has been made by the jury," he answered. Before finally referencing the comment made by Tadej Pogacar who said van Aert just didn't have the legs. "I answer with the pedals."