An aerosol-generating article for producing an inhalable aerosol upon heating, the aerosol-generating article comprising: a rod of aerosol-generating substrate; and a downstream section at a location downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the downstream section comprises: a support element located immediately downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, the support element being in longitudinal alignment with the rod and comprising a first hollow tubular segment having an internal diameter (D FTS); an aerosol cooling element positioned immediately downstream of the support element and in longitudinal alignment with the support element and the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, the aerosol-cooling element comprising a second hollow tubular segment having an internal diameter (D STS); wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises a ventilation zone at a location along the second hollow tubular segment, and wherein the internal diameter (D STS) of the second hollow tubular segment is greater than the internal diameter (D FTS) of the first hollow tubular segment, a ratio between the internal diameter (D STS) of the second hollow tubular segment and the internal diameter (D FTS) of the first hollow tubular segment being at least 1.25. a rod of aerosol-generating substrate; and a downstream section at a location downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the downstream section comprises: a support element located immediately downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, the support element being in longitudinal alignment with the rod and comprising a first hollow tubular segment having an internal diameter (D FTS); an aerosol cooling element positioned immediately downstream of the support element and in longitudinal alignment with the support element and the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, the aerosol-cooling element comprising a second hollow tubular segment having an internal diameter (D STS); wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises a ventilation zone at a location along the second hollow tubular segment, and wherein the internal diameter (D STS) of the second hollow tubular segment is greater than the internal diameter (D FTS) of the first hollow tubular segment, a ratio between the internal diameter (D STS) of the second hollow tubular segment and the internal diameter (D FTS) of the first hollow tubular segment being at least 1.25. a support element located immediately downstream of the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, the support element being in longitudinal alignment with the rod and comprising a first hollow tubular segment having an internal diameter (D FTS); an aerosol cooling element positioned immediately downstream of the support element and in longitudinal alignment with the support element and the rod of aerosol-generating substrate, the aerosol-cooling element comprising a second hollow tubular segment having an internal diameter (D STS); wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises a ventilation zone at a location along the second hollow tubular segment, and wherein the internal diameter (D STS) of the second hollow tubular segment is greater than the internal diameter (D FTS) of the first hollow tubular segment, a ratio between the internal diameter (D STS) of the second hollow tubular segment and the internal diameter (D FTS) of the first hollow tubular segment being at least 1.25.