Lampaert on his way to podium, but falls hard at the hands of a fan
The rider of Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl collided with a spectator in the final phase of the race and had an ugly fall. Lampaert landed with his back on the cobblestones, but luckily he was soon back on the bike. The stage was over.
The images†
“Yes, those are situations that should not happen in the race. It’s a shame”, Lampaert said after the finish. “I want to cut that bend to the right and normally the supporters go backwards. But that man brings his arm forward and hits my arm. As a result, I lost control of the wheel and I had no response. All I can say is that it’s a calf. If you don’t know anything about the race, stay home,” he responded afterwards.
Lampaert apologized for that last statement on Twitter a few hours after the game. “Maybe I shouldn’t have called him a calf, but he was still on the course. Let this be a lesson to everyone, that they must back up as the riders approach. I still love all the fans, you were amazing today,” wrote the former Belgian champion.
Wiel Laporte suddenly folds in half on cobblestones, but does not fall
On one of the many cobbled sections of Paris-Roubaix, Christophe Laporte’s material failed him. And not just a little bit, because the rear wheel of his bike completely flipped over. That Laporte survived could therefore be called a small miracle.
View the images here†
Van Aert shows battered hand
Wout van Aert was back on his bike on Monday morning. A day after his second place in Paris-Roubaix, the Belgian champion shared a photo of blisters on his hand, which also appears to be somewhat swollen.
On Monday morning, Van Aertdus was back on his bike for a 40-kilometer ride in and around his hometown. He also shared a photo of his hand, which is badly damaged: blisters on his fingers and what appears to be a swollen palm. Not because of a crash during Paris-Roubaix, but because of the shocks to his handlebars on the cobblestones. Gloves help, but apparently can’t completely prevent damage.
At least it looks painful†
Merlier with ugly wound to hospital
One of the victims was also Tim Merlier. The 29-year-old sprinter from Alpecin-Fenix has suffered an ugly open wound to his elbow in a serious fall and had to go under the knife on Sunday evening.
“Tim’s surgery went well,” girlfriend Cameron Vandenbroucke reassured on social media. “No fractures, but a very deep wound that needs very good care.”
Merlier in the hospital
Instagram Cameron Vandenbroucke
Even a mechanic hurts himself after a fall
Sunday was again not Lotto-Soudal’s day. Even mechanic Krist Devisch fell when he wanted to deliver a new bike to Brent Van Moer.
“Not only the riders had to deal with their share of accident and falls,” Lotto Soudal tweeted Monday morning. “Speedy recovery to our mechanic Krist, who injured his elbow quite seriously.”
The images†
What a bad day for Lotto-Soudal. The Belgian team had to settle for a 30th place for Philippe Gilbert as the best result. Cedric Beullens, Roger Kluge and Brent Van Moer came in 59th, 60th and 61st. Victor Campenaerts came in out of time, at more than 28 minutes, Florian Vermeersch and Sébastien Grignard did not make it to the finish. Last year Vermeersch was second, this year the Belgian had a lot of bad luck from the start.
Not only with the men, but also with the women went wrong
The Belgian Julie De Wilde also shared in the misery. She suffered a serious fall on Saturday and was immediately taken to hospital. The verdict: two fractures in the sixth vertebra and a lot of scratches. But late Sunday evening, De Wilde was allowed to leave the hospital.
On her Instagram, the Belgian cycling talent gave a final update on her damage suffered on Sunday: “I have not seen much of the Hell of the North† But in the end I can say that it could all have turned out much worse. I suffered two minor fractures on the anterior side of my sixth vertebra and some scratches.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t remember anything about the crash. If anyone has more information or saw anything, be sure to let me know,” she called on eyewitnesses to come forward.
Instagram Julie De Wilde