Defending champion Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is again up and using after being concerned in an enormous crash on the Tour of Flanders with 126km to go.
Van der Poel was using in direction of the again of the peloton with most of his Alpecin-Deceuninck teammates on the method to the Eikenberg when a crash on the left-hand aspect of the peloton rippled again by way of the group and took down a number of riders, together with the previous world champion.
He appeared unhurt after crashing onto the grass, leaping straight again on the bike and following teammate Edward Planckaert’s wheel to attempt to rejoin the peloton.
The likes of Tim Wellens (UAE Workforce Emirates-XRG), Emīls Liepiņš (Q36.5) and John Degenkolb (Picnic-PostNL) gave the impression to be extra badly affected and stayed down after the crash.
Wellens later additionally returned to the again of the peloton to assist his chief Tadej Pogačar, whereas Degenkolb was sadly compelled to desert the race. Harry Sweeny (EF Schooling-EasyPost) additionally deserted the race after coming down within the high-speed incident.
With 122km to go, Van der Poel was in the back of the primary group however a good distance again from key rivals Pogačar (UAE Workforce Emirates-XRG) and Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), with the steep hellingen and cobbled sectors now coming thick and quick.
By 8km after the crash, the panic, for now, was over for Van der Poel, having bought again within the group of favourites and moved once more in direction of the entrance. With an adrenaline increase, he’ll now attempt to get well and cool down for the subsequent climbs up the Molenberg and Berendries.
Pogačar’s crew, nonetheless, took a number of blows within the method to the climbs with Jhonatan Narváez and Florian Vermeersch additionally taking place earlier than Wellens at totally different factors. The previous was compelled to desert, closely decreasing UAE’s crew energy.
With 90km to go, the world champion had solely two riders left in the primary group of favourites to assist him, nonetheless, they the remaining aside from Narváez have labored their method again into the peloton.
