Video: Mathieu van der Poel escapes crash with fans on Oude Kwaremont
It did not make the live broadcast, but Mathieu van der Poel narrowly avoided a crash on the Oude Kwaremont. Just moments before the Alpecin-Premier Tech rider passed, a crowd barrier tipped over, bringing down several fans leaning against it. Footage on social media shows the Dutchman barely managing to avoid those involved.
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The incident occurred during the second ascent of the iconic climb in the Tour of Flanders, on the first steep section as the riders enter the Kwaremontplein. Tadej Pogačar had launched a strong acceleration, with Wout van Aert tightly following his wheel.
Van der Poel was slightly out of position and had to make an effort to bridge back to Pogačar. In doing so, he suddenly had to navigate an unexpected obstacle, narrowly avoiding what could have been a crash.
Ultimately, Mathieu van der Poel managed to bridge back to Tadej Pogačar, but on the next ascent of the Oude Kwaremont he had to let the Slovenian go, eventually finishing second behind him in Oudenaarde.
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