Tiesj Benoot stands up for mechanic Dirk: “Unfortunate moment after a very hectic race”

It was a striking image in the final of the Tour of Flanders. Tiesj Benoot, who was having a breakdown at the side of the road, received a spare bicycle from his mechanic… from Dylan van Baarle. This led to hilarity on social media, but Benoot stood up for Dirk, the mechanic from Visma | Lease a Bike.

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Benoot was in the third group after the last Paterberg. That was far behind the lonely Mathieu van der Poel, but only a little behind Alberto Bettiol and Dylan Teuns. So they were still riding for second place, when Benoot suffered equipment failure for the second time in the race. He pulled over and the mechanic brought him a spare bicycle.

However, this was the bike of Dutch champion Van Baarle, easily recognizable by the red, white and blue accents. The mechanic then had to go back to the car again for another bicycle. Benoot then ended up in a group that was already far behind. Ultimately he would finish in fifteenth place the High Mass.

“Don’t give Dirk too much here shit ahead,” Benoot begins. “He is one of the best mechanics I know and this was just an unfortunate moment after a very hectic race. My other bike was no longer on the car after a mechanical defect on the second time at Oude Kwaremont. Peace and love.”