Van Aert immediately grabbed his collarbone and his shoulder was badly scraped. Tears flowed from the leader of Visma – Lease a Bike, who was taken away on a stretcher just like Stuyven. Gianni Vermeersch also fell hard, he even fell over. Also there: Alex Kirsh, Michele Gazzoli, Anthony Turgis, Harry Sweeny and Brent Van Moer.
This contains inserted content from a social media network that wants to write or read cookies. You have not given permission for this.
Click here to adjust your preferences
This contains inserted content from a social media network that wants to write or read cookies. You have not given permission for this.
Click here to adjust your preferences
Van Aert was the first to fall, as the replay shows. Serbian champion Dusan Rajovic had to swerve because our compatriot hit Tiesj Benoot’s wheel. Eventual winner Matteo Jorgenson escaped unscathed.
This contains inserted content from a social media network that wants to write or read cookies. You have not given permission for this.
Click here to adjust your preferences
In addition to Van Aert and Stuyven, Girmay, Kirsch, Gazzoli and Sweeny also gave up. Pedersen initially drove further, but closed the brakes when passing the team bus.
Team Visma-Lease a Bike confirmed the submission of ‘WVA’ on social media. “Let’s hope he’s okay,” the Dutch WorldTour team added. Van Aert then went to the emergency room of the hospital in Ronse. According to our information, it turned out that Van Aert had suffered several fractures and required stitches. The hard verdict: no Tour and Roubaix…
That news was confirmed by his team itself on Tuesday evening. “Unfortunately, Wout van Aert suffered several fractures in the crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen. At the hospital, a broken collarbone and several broken ribs were diagnosed. It is unclear how long his recovery will take. He will certainly miss the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and the Amstel Gold Race.”
Van Aert has now been taken by ambulance to Herentals, where he will undergo surgery.
This contains inserted content from a social media network that wants to write or read cookies. You have not given permission for this.
Click here to adjust your preferences
Van Aert had also hit the asphalt hard last Friday in the E3 Saxo Classic, when entering the Paterberg. He was left with several wounds on his right side, near the hip and elbow.
More images of the fall:
