This time Wout van aert he is disappointed. If he could, he'd even break the chair that's used for interviews in the mixed zone. But he, as we know, is always very kind and helpful. But you're playing for a Paris-Roubaix and you lose it at the key moment, the one everyone was waiting for, including you, and you see your usual rival go away.
That's how it is. It's the stone race. You either love it or hate it. One moment you're flying, the next you're stuck on the side of the road. But today it's not just Van Aert who has something to reflect on, but the whole team as well.
Too many punctures
The Dutch team either made a mistake in terms of pressure today or was very unlucky. Which can also be true. Even the Soudal-Quick Step, which is the undisputed master up here, had its fair share of punctures today. La Jumbo Visma It's fitted with the same tires as the Alpecin-Elegant, the Vittoria, but they've had much more punctures. Van Aert has had two punctures, Laporte has had two, and Van Hooydonck has had one. At least those notes.
This, besides being a cause for reflection from a technical point of view, had a significant impact on the progress of the race. Aside from the fall in Van Baarle, As the defending champion, Jumbo-Visma could have had three like Alpecin in front of them. And what athletes...
Laporte and Van Hooydonck have shown that they have it. And a lot. At a certain point, they were catching up with the top-seeded teams. And that would have disrupted the course of the race. Van der Poel should have responded to the attacks and used his men differently.
Wout of remittance
And then there's Wout. Last week we had you talked about a "war of nerves"In fact, his attitude during the race was different today. He was marking Van der Poel closely, when things are usually the other way around. A couple of flashes and then a quick one. Wout needed to change tactics, and he did.
«What can I say – Van Aert says disconsolately – I was feeling very good today. Even though I didn't arrive at this day in the best possible shape (and he points to the knee injured in Flanders, ed.), the pain didn't bother me too much. There's nothing you can do about bad luck.
«In general for me It was a tough day. I had two flat tires, One just before the Arenberg Forest. At one point, I ran out of companions. But I tried to stay calm and headed back. Before the Forest I felt good and on that stretch I pushed hard».
It's all over
Then the story of Wout's race inevitably comes to the moment of the key mechanical problem. A few moments before Wout pulls away, you can see him tilt his head. Look down, towards the rear wheel.
«I've already had several punctures in my career, but at this point in the race it's bitter, it hurts. Hell remains cursed for me, at least for now. The Roubaix only ends when you reach the velodrome. In that wheel change I thought I'd lost 20-25 seconds and With Mathieu in that form, you can't fix it. You know right away it's over.
"I tried to stay calm there too. As soon as I entered the sector," referring to the Carrefour de l'Arbre, " I pushed hard, but as I approached the bend, I felt like I had a puncture. I alerted the team. There was one of our guys at the exit of the sector. It was a quick change, but at that point in the race, it's still too long."
the high forehead
«In the end, however, I'm satisfied with my performance and my legs – continues the ace from Herentals – It's another podium that adds to this spring of classics. Unfortunately, a major victory did not materialize, but that's how it is. Will I try again? Of course I'll try again. But now I need to recover."
So, the first part of Van Aert's season ends here. which, let us remember, has been “pulling the cart” since this winter with the cyclocross season. His next commitment, barring any changes, should be the Tour of Switzerland in mid-June.
