Van Aert disappointed after flat tire in Roubaix: ‘Hell remains cursed for me’ | Cycling

Apr 09, 2023 at 6:05 PMUpdate: 9 minutes ago

Wout van Aert is disappointed after his third place in Paris-Roubaix. The leader of Jumbo-Visma had a puncture 15 kilometers from the finish, so he had to let his competitor Mathieu van der Poel go.

“The flat tire came at a very sour moment”, 28-year-old Van Aert was disappointed at Sporza afterwards. “As a result, the match was immediately over. The ‘Hell’ remains cursed for me.”

At the time of the flat tire, Van Aert and Van der Poel had just driven away from the other favourites. After the Carrefour de l’Arbre, the Belgian had to let the leader of Alpecin-Deceuninck go.

In the end, Van der Poel was not taken back and Van Aert lost in the sprint for second place to his compatriot and Jasper Philipsen, who also plays for Alpecin-Deceuninck.

“I don’t know how many seconds I lost, but you can’t make up for that on a Mathieu in top form,” said Van Aert, who also had problems with his ribs. “I was able to bite the pain. It didn’t bother me so much in the race, but now I do.”

Wout van Aert had to admit his superior to Jasper Philipsen in the sprint for second place. Photo: Getty Images

‘Life is not all about victories’

Van Aert also grabbed the victory in his fifth participation in Paris-Roubaix. Last year he finished second behind Dylan van Baarle at almost two minutes and earlier he finished 7th (2021), 13th (2018) and 22nd (2019).

“I am proud of what I have achieved this spring. I have achieved a great series. A big victory has not materialized, but life does not consist only of victories. I have shown what I have to offer.”

In Gent-Wevelgem, Van Aert finished second behind his French teammate Christophe Laporte, whom he gave the victory. In Milan-San Remo and in the Tour of Flanders he had to settle for third and fourth place respectively. He did, however, win the E3 Saxo Classic last month.

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