Ilan Van Wilder ‘completely shocked’ after 75 km/h descent crash: ‘It could have been much worse’

The 26-year-old Belgian had been sitting 12th in the general classification when he crashed on the descent of the Col de la Croix de Fer. Unable to continue, he was forced to leave the race just one day before the finish in Paris.

“I am so sad and disappointed to leave the race after a high speed crash on stage 20,” Van Wilder wrote on Instagram.

“I was descending the Croix de Fer at 75 km/h when I suddenly crashed hard on an almost straight section of road due to a flat front tyre.”

Van Wilder said the impact left him shocked and disoriented. “I was completely shocked, disoriented and in disbelief. I was wondering what had happened and I was simply unable to continue.”

“This was without doubt the highest speed crash of my career. Knowing that something like this can happen at any moment is frightening.”

Despite suffering numerous abrasions and bruises, Van Wilder acknowledged that the consequences could have been far more serious.

“Things could have been much worse, so I can consider myself lucky with the outcome. I have a lot of abrasions and bruises, and although everyone tells you that you will be fine, you still think about what could have happened. It is probably better not to dwell on that.”

The crash also brought an end to what had been a strong personal performance in the Tour.

Van Wilder was on course for a top 15 finish after a difficult start to the season and months of preparation.

“It is a hard pill to swallow,” he wrote. “All the hard work after an already difficult start to the season, all the preparation, the fighting and the suffering every day had given me good form and a great result at the highest level.”

“It is difficult to see all of that disappear in the blink of an eye.”

Van Wilder nevertheless looked back on the race with pride. Soudal Quick-Step celebrated three stage victories through sprinter Tim Merlier.

“I look back on our Tour de France with pride. Three stage wins with our sprint powerhouse Tim, and the daily grit, motivation and enjoyment shown by my teammates and the staff.”

“Thank you for the unforgettable memories. Now go and give it everything one last time in Paris.”

Earlier in the Tour, Van Wilder had spoken about the different atmosphere within Soudal Quick-Step without Remco Evenepoel.

“This is my fifth Grand Tour and the first without Remco. That makes it different,” he told Het Laatste Nieuws. “A lot of the stress has gone. Everything is a little freer and more relaxed.”

Van Wilder stressed that his comments were not directed at Evenepoel, but at the pressure surrounding him. “Honestly, I would not like to be in Remco’s team,” he said. “And I do not mean that negatively.”

That greater freedom helped Van Wilder produce one of the strongest Grand Tour performances of his career before his crash ended his race.