The victory went to Matteo Jorgenson. But the Visma-Lease a Bike team could not put on a full smile. One each of Wout van Aert, which he himself caused and from which he emerged as the most affected, changed the face of the classic Through Flanders. The race, divided into fans, was already cut off due to the wind. The Belgian phenomenon dragged people like Mads Pedersen, Jasper Stuyven y Biniyam Girmay. In a way, with the abandonment of the top favorite, groaning, his “jersey” undone and his back red and swollen, the test began again at about 70 km. of the goal.
And he did it sleeve by shoulder. From an initial escape of 14 men, some survived and others fell. Be that as it may, between individual advances and retreats or by small units, two groups were configured. In the lead, six riders. In his wake, eight.
They merged. Not all. Jorgensen (not to be confused with Jorgensonwinner in the end) and Mathias Norsgaard, the Dane from Movistar, had given in and were swallowed up by a third squad now without possibilities. The fate was drawn, but not decided. They flew Alberto Bettiol, Casper Pedersen, Stefan Kng, Jonas Abrahamsen, Matteo Jorgenson, Dries de Bondt, Joshua Tarling (which suffers on the slopes and linked on the flat and the descents), Michael Valgren, Pascal Eenkhoorn, Dries de Pooter, Tiesj Benoot…
With 21 km left. Bettiol attacked, in great shape, brand new winner of the Milan-Turn. He walked away… until cramps stopped him cold. The subsequent skirmishes left half a dozen men in the lead: Knh, Jorgenson, De Bondt, Tarling (which kept breaking down and putting itself back together), Abrahamsen y Benoot.
Small attempts, many looks, many feints… When, with seven kilometers to go. for the goal, demarr, dry, hard, Jorgenson, it was immediately seen that no one could respond. While the American walked away inevitably, the others, except the heroic Tarling, just turned 20 years old, who made up for the lack of strength with will, they were only fighting for secondary places on the podium. In a state of grace, the American, who has just imposed himself on Remco Evenepoel in Paris-Nice, he raised his arms to the sky. The sprint for second place was won Abrahamsen a king.
Through Flanders, between the towns of Roeselare y Waregemis the sweet-spery appetizer of the Tour of Flanders, which takes place on Sunday. Wout van Aert, evacuated on a stretcher, will most likely not be at the exit. We all lose.