Tiesj Benoot blames himself for crash that ruins Wout van Aert's Flanders dream

Visma-Lease a Bike left reeling after a self-inflicted crash ends Van Aert's spring Classics campaign and dampens the team's chances at a Monument win

18:38, Wednesday 27th March 2024

Logan Jones-Wilkins

Junior Writer - North America

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Tiesj Benoot took the blame for the crash that cost Wout van Aert a chance at a Monument victory this spring

The 2024 Dwars door Vlaanderen is a race that will bring Tiesj Benoot a wide mix of emotions.

On one hand, the Belgian helped his Visma-Lease a Bike teammate Matteo Jorgenson take his first one-day victory. On the other hand, Benoot felt that he was partially responsible for the crash that took Wout van Aert out of the team's biggest objectives of the spring.

"Our plan was to go on the Kanarieberg and the Van Dijke brothers were doing a great lead-out, Tim [van Dijke] was finished leading out and Trek were passing us,” Benoot said after the race.

“Wout shouted at me to accelerate so I did, but I think when I stood up he touched my wheel in the back. I feel really shit about it, actually. I hope he is doing ok, I don't know anything about it."

As a result of the crash Visma-Lease a Bike’s big objective of the spring to deliver Wout van Aert to a Monument win is now over as Van Aert was diagnosed with a broken collarbone and several broken ribs at the hospital. While the exact timeline of his recovery is unknown, Van Aert will miss the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Amstel Gold Race.

“We’re of course down because our team leader had a really bad crash ahead of the two most important races of the season for him. That’s absolutely shit and really disappointing.” Grissha Niermann, Visma-Lease a Bike’s DS said after the race.

“We are not in a really good place at the moment, that’s for sure, and today was no exception, apart from the fact that we won the race. It’s very unfortunate because our Spring Classics campaign is about the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix – they’re the two races we want to win. We have to see tonight when we know some news about how it’s going, but anyway, we will start on Sunday with seven strong riders.”

“That’s just two sides of the [coin] and unfortunately, that’s also part of cycling. The race doesn’t even wait for Wout van Aert, Tadej Pogačar or Mathieu van der Poel.”