The dream was to wear the red jersey already at the end of the first day, but it didn't work out that way. Wout van Aert gave it a try, but on the roads of Monaco he had to contend with an unbeatable opponent and, above all, with a time trial that put even the best specialists to the test. The Belgian from Visma | Lease a Bike finished far from Tadej Pogacar's victory, who took the first red jersey of the Vuelta, but he has no reason to consider his debut negative. The Flemish rider finished eighth, 9"45 behind the winner.

The margin with the Slovenian was minimal for some of the protagonists, but sufficient to prevent Van Aert from achieving his first objective: taking the race leadership. Yet, more than the final result, what sparked discussion was the course chosen by the organizers.

A time trial of just 9.4 kilometers, but far from simple. The start on the steps of the Casino de Monte-Carlo, passages through the small tunnel, the Monte Carlo Circus, and a practically endless sequence of curves transformed what should have been a race against the clock into a sort of balancing and precision exercise.

Van Aert had understood this already during the reconnaissance. And after crossing the finish line, he didn't hide his doubts. "I lost some time in the corners," admitted the Belgian, summing up in a few words a time trial in which every hesitation could cost precious seconds.

The setting, however, pleased him. Monaco delivered spectacular images and an atmosphere completely different from that of the classic time trials of the grand tours. But according to Van Aert, in some points the limit was exceeded.

"The surrounding environment was truly unique, and I liked that. But in certain points it was really too technical and at the limit," explained the Visma | Lease a Bike rider.

The most delicate point, according to the Belgian, was the finish. "The last stretch around the harbor was a bit too complicated. I did a reconnaissance and in the end it was my choice to take fewer risks. So it's certainly not an excuse, but just my opinion."

An understandable choice, especially considering that the Vuelta has just begun and that Van Aert has objectives far more important than the few seconds lost on the first day. The Belgian arrived in Spain with the ambition to win stages and, why not, try to conquer the red jersey in the early days. The time trial course represented a concrete opportunity, but caution prevailed.

And on the assessment of the course, he wasn't alone. Mathieu Heijboer, coach and performance manager of Visma | Lease a Bike, also expressed a very harsh judgment on the Monaco test. "We should be happy it went well, but I don't think it was a course worthy of a grand tour," he stated.

The problem, according to Heijboer, concerns not only the technical difficulty of the course, but especially the risks that such a time trial could have entailed. "If it rains or someone is unlucky, it becomes a disaster. We should be especially happy it went well."

This perfectly captures the sentiment of the team: no drama over the failure to take the red jersey, especially because there was a Tadej Pogacar once again capable of making the difference. Van Aert, on the other hand, can look ahead.

The Vuelta started one day ago and opportunities for the Belgian won't be lacking. The Spanish course seems designed to showcase his qualities as a complete rider: fast, resilient, explosive, and capable of tackling demanding climbs.

The red jersey slipped away in Monaco. But for Van Aert, the Vuelta has just begun.