The rider of Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl collided with a spectator and had a nasty fall. Lampaert landed full with his back on the cobblestones, but luckily was soon back on the bike. The stage was over.
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“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. For me that is dramatic, because there was still a podium place in it. Mohoric and Van Baarle were stronger than me, third place was perhaps just achievable. But if I have such a fries make…”
“Be careful, everyone has their story in the race and everyone has some bad luck. But it’s a shame that that happens, being supporters,” Lampaert continues. “I can only ask that they make way for the riders. Van Baarle is the deserved winner. I realized pretty quickly when the four of us were gone that I wasn’t the best. I had to divide my efforts well. If I’d been third, it would have felt like a win after such a bad spring. Now it is indeed a bit of disappointment, but luckily I have no fractures. We were left empty-handed.”
Shortly after the arrival, Lampaert was able to embrace his son Alois. Did that help put everything into perspective? “Yes of course. That is still much more important. I’m happy to see my son, but it would have been great if I could take him on that stage.”