Van Aert answers Grand Tour contender question at Tirreno–Adriatico | Video | Sticky Bottle

Wout van Aert on his way to victory today at Tirreno Adriatico today on the final stage. He may have lost out on overall victories after coming up a little short on the climbs, but a strong team would have helped him bridge that gap

Wout van Aert has underlined his general classification potential at Grand Tours after finishing so strong at Tirreno Adriatico that he won today's final stage TT.

The Belgian riding for Jumbo Visma may have come up short - and well short on some of the climbs - in his bid to win the race overall, but having been the team's leader in a stage race with large climbs for the first time, it was a test he passed.

In today's 10.1km TT in San Benedetto del Tronto Van Aert took victory by six seconds from Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), with world TT champion Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers) in 3rd at 11 seconds.

Race leader Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates) was 4th, some 12 seconds down on Van Aert. However, as Pogačar had led Van Aert by 1:15 starting today's TT he easily ran out the overall winner.

Van Aert was impressive throughout; winning the opening stage in a bunch sprint and finishing in the top three on five of the seven stages. He lost time to Pogačar on two days after being out-climbed by his younger rival on stage 4 up to Prati di Tivo and stage 5 to Castelfidardo.

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On both stages Van Aert was isolated without much team support when it really counted. And while the same could be said for Pogačar, Van Aert is not a pure climber and will need a strong team to pace-set on climbs if he is to win a Grand Tour.

Pogačar punches the air as he finishes today's TT, knowing he has claimed the overall title. He was too strong on the climbs for Van Aert, who was unable for Pogačar's change of pace going uphill (Photo: Gian Mattia D'Alberto)

Had that team support been a little better, and Van Aert's race fitness been even a bit sharper, he would have gone much closer to beating Pogačar. He is unable to match the Slovenia's change of pace on the climbs, though one or two team mates who are able to ride deep into the hardest mountain stages would help him bridge that gap.

On stage 4 he was subjected to attacks by climbers and Grand Tour winners, including Ineos Grenadiers men Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal, but kept grinding away on the front of the select group to catch and drop those riders, apart from Pogačar.

Van Aert, who has been a domestique in stage races before this week, has shown he can be backed as leader. Indeed, he put in a performance that marks him out as a future contender for Grand Tour victory at some point.