Wout Van Aert's mournful cries after the Dwars Door Vlaanderen crash were accompanied by the brutal sight of a number of riders and bikes strewn across the road, with their shirts torn and the painful consequences of hitting the road hard at speed.
Some were taken to hospital for treatment, others had to abandon the race and some were able to continue riding, but injury updates continued in the hours after the race and into Thursday as Van Aert, Stuyven and Kirsch underwent surgery and the riders woke up in pain.
The Dwars Door Vlaanderen accident meant that “the world of cycling turned on its axis,” wrote Barry Ryan in his reflection on Van Aert’s ill-fated relationship with the Classics and what it meant for the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and the sport.
Teams were forced to change their formations for the Tour of Flanders, team leaders were out of the race, while others were injured and sore, meaning it will be a very different race.
This is a team-by-team update on rider injuries.
Visma-Lease a Bike – Multiple fractures and surgery for Wout van Aert
Live race coverage made clear what the Visma-Lease a Bike team later confirmed: Wout van Aert had suffered injuries that would not only take him out of contention for the Tour of Flanders, but also for the Paris-Roubaix and Amstel Gold Race.
“A broken collarbone and several ribs were diagnosed at the hospital,” the team announced.
Het Laatste Nieuws also mentioned in her live blog That Van Aert had surgery on Herenthals overnight and that he also broke his sternum in the fall. Others said he suffered seven broken ribs as a result of the collision with the road after he touched wheels with Teammte Tiesj Benoot.
Intermarché-Wanty – Biniyam Girmay and Lorenz Rex avoid fractures
Biniyam Girmay's 2023 Tour of Flanders hopes were dashed by a horrific fall, so when he went down hard on Wednesday the fear was it would happen again.
The Eritrean appeared injured and in shock as he headed to hospital for tests and treatment, but the Intermarche-Wanty team later provided a “good news” update.
The Belgian team said, “Benjam Jermay and Lorenz Rix did not suffer any fractures after their crash in the Vlaanderen door turnstiles.”
Now waiting to see if Jermay will be on the starting line for the Tour of Flanders, and whether the impact will have a significant impact.
“The first examination showed that he did not suffer from any fracture,” said team performance director Ike Visbeek. Report for Wheelerfleets.
“But we have to take a look, because he actually took a hit in his ribs. He fell hard. It seems like it's not too bad, but it's important now how those ribs react in the coming days.”
“We're still hoping for the Tour of Flanders. It's fifty-fifty, I think.”
Lidl-Trek – Mixed fortunes and various injuries for Mads Pedersen, Jasper Stuyven and Alex Kirsch
The strength of the team was seen as the key to Lidl-Trek heading into the Tour of Flanders, but their hopes were badly damaged in the Dwars Door Vlaanderen crash.
Jasper Stuyven underwent surgery on a broken collarbone, ending his spring campaign on top form. Alex Kirsch also needs surgery for a metatarsal fracture in his right hand.
Gent Wevelgem winner Mads Pedersen was also among those who fell and suffered multiple abrasions and bruises.
“Bruises and body aches will definitely be on the list for the coming days, but I will do my best to come back on Sunday!” Pedersen wrote on Instagram.
“To my fallen teammates @jasperstuyven And @kirschalex92 Get well soon!”
Astana Kazakhstan – Michel Gazzoli breaks three ribs
Italian rider Michele Gazzoli was one of those riders who remained sitting on the road, clearly not going anywhere other than hospital, after Wednesday's fall.
His team in Astana Kazakhstan said X-rays showed he had fractured three ribs.
His teammate Gleb Brusinsky was more fortunate. He was unable to finish Dwars Door Vlaanderen but was not seriously injured.
EF Education-EasyPost – Harry Sweeney avoids injury, Alberto Bitiol suffers cramps, Nelson Pauwels exits the Tour of Flanders
“They were better days,” was Harry Sweeney's comment on an Instagram Story post replaying a video of the Dwars Door Vlaanderen crash which showed him trying to pull himself off the tarmac.
It was a DNF for the Australian with the team saying that “Harry Sweeney has been forced to abandon Dwars Door Vlaanderen following a crash. He will be assessed by the team's medical staff.”
It was perhaps a positive sign of Sweeney's inclusion in the Tour of Flanders squad when a media statement about his composition was issued on Wednesday evening.
Alberto Bitiol (as he was also named for the Tour of Flanders) despite suffering convulsions during the attack on Dwars Door Vlaanderen. But Nelson Powless will not race on Sunday after a knee injury ruined his spring.
Alpecin-Deceuninck – Matthew van der Poel stays safe at home, Gianni Vermeersch suffers road rash but no injuries
Mathieu dan der Poel opted not to ride Dwars Door Vlaanderen after racing strongly at E3 SAxo Calssic and Gent-Wevelgem, so he was safe at home when the crash wiped out his biggest rival. He is now the favorite for the Tour of Flanders.
Jasper Philipsen avoided the collision but his teammate Gianni Vermeersch sped off, flying over his handlebars but managing to roll.
He was able to return to the Alpecin-Deceuninck team bus but the team said he suffered “abrasions to the back and trauma was diagnosed at the level of the sacrum.”
It is not clear whether he will be able to ride the Tour of Flanders.
