Wout Van Aert, who rode consistently in the Tour de Suisse to take the points prize, said there is still room for improvement as he prepares for the Tour de France.

The Tour de Suisse was his first race since finishing second in Paris-Roubaix in April and came after an extended period of high-altitude training in the Sierra Nevada and Switzerland. The Belgian will be important to Jumbo Visma's Tour team as Jonas Vingegaard looks to defend the yellow jersey in 2022.

"I have reached a good level in the past week. I may not be at my best level yet, but I hope to make another step forward in the next two weeks. We needed the incentive of the race to get sharp."

The Tour de Suisse was overshadowed by the tragic death of Gino Mader, and Van Aert admitted that the idea of building on his pre-Tour form had been put aside in recent days.

"For a while the sport is not so important," he said.

"It's been difficult days. There was a unique atmosphere and it was difficult to continue in the same way. I'm looking forward to going home and getting away from the racing world for a while."

The race concluded with an individual time trial. Van Aert, who finished third behind Stefan Küng and compatriot Remco Evenpoel on day one, had to settle for fifth place on Sunday's final stage, a long, steep test to Apthoville.

"The feeling was good, but not exceptional," Van Aert said.

"At the top of the climb, I wanted to go higher, but it was difficult for me. Even without knowing my split times, I already felt it wasn't enough. It went well, but I just wish I could have controlled it a little better.

"I always start to win the time trial, so it always weighs on me when I don't win. But I think it's better to wait a while before drawing conclusions about how far behind my competitors I am."

Van Aert returns to the Belgian championships this weekend, competing in Thursday's individual time trial and Sunday's road race. In addition to his five Belgian cyclocross titles, Van Aert was Belgian road champion in 2021 and won the national time trial in 2019 and 2020.

"I'm looking forward to the Belgian tricolor because it's a nice jersey. I've worn it a few times already and would love to conquer it again."

Van Aert's biggest rival in this week's time trial and road race will surely be Remco Evenpole (Soudal-Quickstep), who also competed in the Tour de Suisse.

The world champion won the final stage to Weinfelden, finishing third overall after finishing second in the final time trial.

"I came here knowing I wasn't in very good shape, but I was able to win a stage and get on the podium in this important race.

Evenepoel has already decided not to compete in the Tour. He will be training camp in Val di Fassa in the Italian Dolomites in July for the World Championships in Glasgow, and the rest of his 2023 program has yet to be determined.

"We will see how the second half of the season goes there," Evenpoel said of his stay in Italy.

"But I can already say that I will be at San Sebastian and the World Championships.