Tour of Flanders and Fourth in his first Tour of Flanders. Just as he is also fourth in Gent-Wevelgem. But what if Mathieu van der Poel (24) is not heavy against the ground, smakte? “I am happy that I am still here in one piece”, says the Dutch wonderknaap in the studio of Very .

It was probably the moment that will leave a lasting impression of the 103rd Tour of Flanders. Van der Poel, who, after pull-and duwwerk of the road hit, forced a window box to avoid making his wheel broke and he hard crashed. “The crash was stupid. I sat all the way to the right and collided almost at the planters. That is why I wanted the edge, but my wheel broke from the front by the curb,” said VDP in Very . “I was lucky that my wheel is not equal in two breaks. Now it was my wheel halfway through and then break it completely if I were almost standing still. At first, the fall or just pain, but then you start think back that it is sixty kilometers.”

Only on my white pants not everyone was entirely enthusiastic

A smiling Mathieu van der Poel

Blood on the lower leg and the elbow, but it seemed the damage to fall. “My elbow has the most impact absorbed, but all in all it turned out okay. I got a new bike from the team car, but then began my final already. I didn’t think I was still in the race would come.”

GERELATEERDE ARTIKELENMEER VAN DEZE AUTEUR