Star Van Aert had a horror fall. He was taken to the hospital in pain

The fall occurred 67 kilometers before the finish line and involved, among others, Mads Pedersen, Jasper Stuyven (Lidl-Trek) and Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty). The carom happened shortly after the Berg ten Houte climb, when the peloton was rapidly approaching the key Kanarieberg exit.

“They were passing us on the left, Wout was shouting at me to speed up, which I did. Wout collided with my bike. It makes me feel like shit,” lamented the Belgian’s teammate Tiesj Benoot. “I saw Wout’s fall up close and it didn’t look good. I’m thinking about him,” added the victorious Jorgenson at the finish line.

Van Aert struggled to pick himself up from the ground after the fall and it was clear from his face that the consequences were very painful. He also immediately headed to the hospital and his start at Sunday’s classic Kolem Flander, where he should have been one of the main favourites, is in serious jeopardy.