Mathieu van der Poel reacts to Wout’s fall: “Not close with Van Aert, but it is very hard for him”

It is now a few days later, but it remains a shame that Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert could not compete against each other in the Tour of Flanders. During that match, Van der Poel mainly had to say what Van Aert’s absence meant.

But what exactly was Van der Poel’s initial reaction to Van Aert’s crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen? And how did the world champion find out? Van der Poel has also provided clarity on this. For this we have to go back to last Wednesday.

“It might be wrong to say I was shocked, but it was real shit. I just came back from training, turned on the television and five minutes later the crash happened. I really think it’s a shame for all the riders who were involved,” Van der Poel sympathizes with the unlucky ones.

VAN DER POEL SYMPATHIES

Wout van Aert was in the worst condition of all. Van der Poel would of course have preferred to see it differently, even if it meant one less competitor for the Tour of Flanders. And also for Paris-Roubaix, the classic that is scheduled for next weekend.

“I wouldn’t say I close with him, but I am often mentioned in the same breath as Van Aert and I know what he has done to be ready for those two races,” Van der Poel still talks about Van Aert personally. After all, they are champions who are both very make some sacrifices to be at their best.