A smile, but especially a lot of tears at Visma: Jorgenson wins Dwars door Vlaanderen overshadowed by Van Aert’s fall

Joy and sadness have never been so close together for Visma-Lease a Bike. In a massive crash – including Trek duo Pedersen and Stuyven – the yellow block saw its leader Wout van Aert drop out in Dwars door Vlaanderen. The fact that Matteo Jorgenson secured the victory with a late lunge seems like little consolation.

• Key moment: The massive crash in the descent of the Kanarieberg not only means the end of the race (and the spring?) of Van Aert, Stuyven, Girmay and Pedersen, among others, but it is also there where the later leading group will emerge, including winner Matteo Jorgenson.

• Winner of the day: At Movistar, Matteo Jorgenson still had to dig into his own pockets to literally invest in his career, but at Visma-Lease a Bike the American is blossoming completely. “A crazy season,” Jorgenson himself calls it, after previously winning Paris-Nice.

• Losers of the day: Too many to mention. Wout van Aert of course, who cried bitter tears of pain and disappointment. But Lidl-Trek also shared the blows, with both Jasper Stuyven and Mads Pedersen. The big loser may well be the Tour of Flanders, which suddenly sees many favorites disappear.

The lightning-fast but also extremely dangerous descent between Berg ten Houte and the Kanarieberg was literally and figuratively the breaking point of this 78th Dwars door Vlaanderen.

A rogue platoon was hot on the heels of an eleven-man escape group, which had only been formed after an hour. Visma-Lease a Bike had taken control of the race. Until the fateful fall.

With his shirt completely torn open, Wout van Aert groaned in pain, Jasper Stuyven was carried away on a stretcher, while the race was also over for Mads Pedersen, Gianni Vermeersch and Biniam Girmay, among others.

That crash put a black pall over the remainder of the race. Visma-Lease a Bike managed to change the gun. Tiesj Benoot and Matteo Jorgenson continued after the fall and were joined by Stefan Küng, Alberto Bettiol, Michael Valgren and Joshua Tarling.

The leading group struggled for longer than expected, they never got organized in the peloton, so we were able to write them off quite early.

When the escapees were finally caught, Dries De Bondt and Jonas Abrahamsen still seemed to have enough to keep up until the end.

The yellow brigade was the only one with Benoot and Jorgenson, something that would be crucial later. First there was Bettiol’s attack on Nokereberg. Until the ex-winner of the Tour left the race a few kilometers further with cramps.

After this, Benoot and Jorgenson played perfectly, taking turns attacking. Ultimately, it was Jorgenson who was able to time his attack best. Küng, De Bondt, Abrahamsen and Tarling had no desire or strength to respond. The race was run.

In the battle for the other podium places, 28-year-old Abrahamsen (Uno-X) gave his calling card and, like Oier Lazkano last year, sprinted from the early break to second place, just ahead of Küng.

• Jonas Abrahamsen (second): “I have often been in the break this season, I am happy that it has finally given me a podium place. I was already close in the Tirreno. Could I win? Visma was strong with 2 riders. A podium place already makes me very happy. I feel that I am a lot stronger since I rode the Tour. Before that I was struggling with mononucleosis.”

• Stefan Küng (third): “Second place was the maximum, because Visma had the surplus and played it well. After them I was probably the strongest, but that’s why the others kept looking at me. It was 2 against 1.”

  “During that big crash I had just moved forward a bit. I heard that they were falling behind us. Everyone was in shock for a moment. It is indeed a dangerous place, but 9 out of 10 times it ends well. Now it goes 2 wrong for years in a row. But there are still such places, such as between the Hotond and the Trieu. It is difficult to avoid. However, it is a wide road. If you look for smaller roads, it is also dangerous. Unfortunately, it should be at the race, although we would rather not see it.”

  “For me it looks good for the Tour of Flanders. Normally the cobblestone races should suit me even better. I also feel that I am getting better every race.”

Phase by phase

Jorgensen holds out in the end and wins Dwars door Vlaanderen

The peloton now also comes in at just over 2 minutes. Flames are still being lit for the places of honor.

Four riders will sprint for 7th place, with Milan, Gachinard, Norsgaard and Valgren. Of course, Milan wins by a margin, ahead of Valgren and Norsgaard.

Top 6

Impressive from Abrahamsen. He still sprints to second place, ahead of Küng, De Bondt and Benoot. At some distance Tarling is 6th.

Abrahamsen was still overtaken. We sprint for second place.

Jorgenson the first!

Jorgenson shakes his head in disbelief. After Paris-Nice he also wins Dwars door Vlaanderen. Will he be the leader of Visma-Lease a Bike in the Ronde?

Jorgenson assured of victory

Matteo Jorgenson can already throw a small party under the red rag. But the music will be somewhat in a minor key after the fall of leader Wout van Aert.

Abrahamsen has not yet won a game. Benoot still wants to go there. We are approaching the last kilometer.

They have set course. Real course.

José De Cauwer

Abrahamsen

They do not want to drive behind Jonas Abrahamsen. Will the Norwegian from Uno-X reach out for 2nd place?

In the battle for 2nd place we see shots from Tarling and Küng. But Benoot and De Bondt don’t let anyone drive.

Another 5 kilometers

Küng is in the lead in the chase, but he immediately looks back and sees Benoot, Jorgenson’s teammate. Of course it won’t come from him.

Time difference

Renaat’s legendary chrono stops at 17 seconds. Things are looking good for Jorgenson!

You actually have to respond immediately to those types of attacks.

José De Cauwer

It will have to come from De Bondt again, but he has already given so much. It seems like an unequal battle. Can we write Jorgenson up yet?

Jorgensen blasts away at an excellent moment

Jorgenson’s good one?

Matteo Jorgenson has found a good moment. At Küng and co, the tongue is on the feet. The American immediately has a serious gap.

There is no stopping now, which is not good news for the constantly catching Tarling. When Jorgenson sets the pace, it is Benoot who goes again. There isn’t much to it.