The Belgian Rad-Profi Dries de Bondt presented itself in top form on Sunday and was on top 10 course at the Paris-Roubaix classic until shortly before the end. Then he made a serious decision that cost him a lot of time and ultimately a place in the top ten.
Although Dries de Bondt only started for the third time in his career at Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, the 33-year-old Belgian was extremely good in good condition and prepared for the challenges in the “Hell of the North”. The race went so well for him that he flirted with a top 10 placement until shortly before the end. But then a mishap happened to him away from the TV cameras.
“When I drove into the curve under the flame of Rouge after the last cobblestone passage, I followed a motorcycle in front of me. Unfortunately, it turned out that it left the route … and I am after. How is that possible?” DE BONTT described his fauxpas in conversation with the newspaper “Het Nieuwsblad”.
Rad-professional goes: “Pretty stupid, what?”
According to De Bondt, his lack of knowledge of the route was responsible for his mistake. The last cobblestone passage in particular is rarely crucial and also only 300 meters long. “We never drive there during the tour of the route,” said the Belgian, who involuntarily maneuvered himself in a dead end.
“I had to go right, then to the left and right again. I misjudged it and had a high speed, so I was very close to the motorcycle,” he looked back at the moment that cost him his best placement at the classic cycling. “Pretty stupid, what? Fortunately there are no shots of it,” he was able to smile at a little distance again.
After all, it was enough for de Bondt to be 22nd. A real satisfaction for him. “I’ve heard too often that I am a good driver, but that I lack something for the big races,” he said. Nevertheless, the missed top 10 also hurts: “I don’t often get the chance of the top 10 in big races, so it tastes a bit bitter.”