Ilan Van Wilder is part of the Sudar-Quick Step team formed around Remco Evenpoel, but while others were flanking the world champion in the UAE Tour, Van Wilder tasted precious freedom in the Volta ao Algarve.

The Belgian, who made headlines for his premature blessing atop the Alto da Foia on the second stage of Portugal's five-day race, finished the week in third place overall after finishing third in the Alto do Malhão and seventh in the time trial on the final day.

He emptied himself so much on the final day that it took him several minutes to recover on his back on the pavement in Lagoa, missing the overall win by 15 seconds, but not regretting the 4-second bonus he could have missed with that wrong blessing.

"If you had told me before this week that I would be on the podium at the end of the race, I wouldn't have believed you," Ilan Van Wilder said.

This was Van Wilder's first stage race podium in his young career, and his first since competing in the 2019 Tour de Lavenir as an Under-23. He turned pro with Team DSM in 2020, but his relationship with the team deteriorated in 2021, and he broke his contract and joined Quick Step in November of that year.

After breaking his jaw in Liege-Bastogne-Liege in the spring, he helped Evenpoel win his first Grand Tour at the Vuelta a España.

"For the first time in the last three years, I think I'm ready to take my chances in GC. It's not easy, especially with this team, and I'm really grateful for this opportunity," Van Wilder said.

"After two difficult years, I am happy to be back at the level I want to be at as a GC rider and as a helper.

The short but muscular Van Wilder has long been touted as Belgium's future stage race prospect, with his solid climbing ability coupled with a strong time trial pedigree. The Grand Tour has always been a dream, but for now he is, as he poetically puts it, helping someone else's dream come true.

"Maybe it will come true later, but right now it is too early. We have the best player in the world in Remco Evenpole.

"I am also convinced that this team has the space to take a chance in smaller races and in the Grand Tours in a few years time.

"I'm only 22 years old. I think everyone forgets this. It hasn't been an easy few years, but I'm happy to be back."

Van Wilder was reluctant to make it public that he would be joining the Suredal-Quick Step Giro d'Italia team, but it is already clear that it will be a near-copy of the team that led Evenporel to victory in Spain last September. In any case, he confirmed that after running this weekend's Ardèche Classic and Drome Classic, he and Evenpoel will depart for high-altitude training.

As for his own chances, it remains to be seen when they will resurface, but after missing out on his first professional win while earning his first podium finish, he will not be taking any chances in the same way.

"It was my mistake. I take full responsibility," Van Wilder said of his premature celebration in Foia. 'I will never make such a mistake again in my career.'