Unlucky Van Aert settles for fifth in Hulst
Wout van Aert has not placed on the podium at the Hulst World Cup. The Belgian crashed shortly after the start. A subsequent equipment failure knocked him back a long way. Mathieu van der Poel took the chequered flag.
His misfortune forced Van Aert to chase on the technical course, packed with over twenty thousand fans. The 29-year-old Belgian rider rode his own pace at the back of the field, setting fast lap times and eventually fighting back to fifth place, showing that he is physically and mentally fit.
Van Aert shared his findings shortly after the cross. "The start didn't go well, so I had to make up a few places early on. Unfortunately, I crashed in the fight for positions. In the end, my chain broke. I lost a lot of time. When I was finally able to start my chase, I had a puncture and had to ride half a lap with a flat tyre. That was the end of my fight for the podium.”
"Luckily, the next opportunity will come soon"
"I felt great the last few days”, Van Aert continued. "Maybe I was a bit too eager. Unfortunately, it did not turn out well today. But I kept fighting and didn't let my head down after the various setbacks. Luckily, the next opportunity will come soon.”
Van Aert referred to the New Year's Cross in Baal, Belgium, where the rider from Herentals will also compete.
