‘Wout hit my rear wheel’ – Tiesj Benoot blames himself as crash ends Van Aert’s Flanders dream

Tiesj Benoot stopped to congratulate Dwars door Vlaanderen winner Matteo Jorgenson when he crossed the line in Waregem, but his uneasy embrace told its own story. This was a strange kind of victory for Visma-Lease A Bike. They won the day, but their best rider will lose out on the rest of the Classics campaign.

While Jorgenson was ushered towards the podium, Benoot, who took fourth place, wheeled gingerly towards the mixed zone, his face a picture of concern rather than of celebration. He knew all too well that the importance of his team’s triumph here was eclipsed utterly by the significance of Wout van Aert’s crash with 67km remaining.