Watching the finale of stage 2 was a great example of team dynamics. Van Aert attacked about 2 km from the line, which he later stated was his plan. This move effectively set up Matthew Brennan, who beat Pau Miquel, Tadej Pogacar, and Mads Pedersen to win the sprint. Van Aert mentioned that they knew Matthew would win on such a sprint, and it was a huge result since this was Brennan's first road stage in a Grand Tour.
It is always interesting to see a veteran rider play a supporting role to help a teammate get a breakthrough. Having that kind of trust in a young sprinter can change the momentum for a whole squad during a three week race.
Should Visma prioritize Van Aert's own ambitions or develop Brennan as its sprinter with Van Aert as a leadout?