The return to racing could not have been written with a better script. After claiming the opening stage upon his comeback to the peloton, Wout van Aert has made it two in a row at the Tour of Denmark, securing victory in the second stage after a thrilling photo finish that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. The Visma | Lease a Bike champion, who also received a visit from Jonas Vingegaard yesterday, continues to dominate the Danish race, maintaining the leader's jersey in the general classification and confirming he has already returned to his best form after the long layoff caused by the serious elbow infection that prevented him from competing in the Tour de France.

The week being experienced in Denmark is a special one for the Flemish superstar. It was on these same Danish roads that, in 2018, Van Aert claimed his first victory in a stage race as a professional. Eight years later, he has returned to the same place and is writing another important chapter in his career.

The second stage was a concentrated dose of emotion. Van Aert launched his sprint in the final meters, but at the finish line Australian Jensen Plowright managed to draw alongside him. The margin was so tight that even the protagonists were uncertain of the result. At first, victory was awarded to Plowright. As the champion he is, Van Aert immediately congratulated his opponent, sportingly accepting the verdict and even following his interview as the winner.

Then, however, came the plot twist. The jury carefully reviewed the photo finish images and, after a new analysis, completely reversed the result, awarding the victory to the Belgian.

«It was quite an unusual experience, but fortunately they double-checked everything. It was really a matter of a whisker. At the finish line, honestly, I didn't know if I had won or lost by just millimeters».

A victory that came almost twenty minutes after crossing the finish line, greeted with a smile that told the whole story of a rider finally back in the spotlight.

The start of the Tour of Denmark had been anything but smooth. In the first stage, Van Aert was caught up in the massive crash that occurred about seventy kilometers from the finish. It seemed like a prelude to another difficult day, but the Belgian managed to rejoin the group, regain his composure, and insert himself into the decisive action before claiming victory. Twenty-four hours later, he proved that success was no accident. Two stages, two victories, and a leader's jersey that now appears increasingly secure on his shoulders.

The second day of the Tour of Denmark was made even more significant by the presence of Jonas Vingegaard.

The Danish champion, forced to abandon the Tour de France following the crash that compromised his Grande Boucle, came to the race to greet his Visma | Lease a Bike teammates on home roads. A particularly welcome encounter for Van Aert as well. «It was nice to see him again and to see that he's recovering well from the crash at the Tour de France».

Vingegaard continues his recovery and would also be considering the possibility of competing in the World Championships for the first time in his career, an objective that seemed difficult to achieve just a few weeks ago.

Despite the dominance shown in the first two days, Van Aert knows the race is far from over. The third stage, between Fredericia and Vejle, features a route rich in short climbs that could put pressure on Visma | Lease a Bike.

«We will certainly be under pressure in what promises to be a very difficult stage». But after what was shown in the first two days, the Belgian starts once again among the great favorites.

His return to competition, after the long layoff that forced him to miss the Tour de France, is taking on the contours of a true rebirth. Two consecutive victories, leadership of the general classification, and the feeling that the brilliance of his best days has already returned. For Wout van Aert, the Tour of Denmark represents much more than just a simple race: it is the signal that the Flemish champion is ready to return as a protagonist in the major appointments of the second half of the season.