Aerts, the last rider to complete the podium of the day, had a complicated end to the race being slowed down by the fall of Michael Vanthourenhout but managed to get back on track to pass in front of Niels Vandeputte and take third place.
“I am satisfied with this result. I could already see the disappointment coming when I found myself blocked after the fall of Vanthourenhout and Thibau Nys had launched his attack. I saw the podium disappearing, but I pushed myself hard again to take bronze,” he commented.
“I was prepared for a very closed Belgian championship. I even thought that it would be even more closed than what it was. After the difficult passages on the course, the peloton generally regrouped. I achieved a good race from a tactical point of view today,” concluded Aerts.
