At Omloop, there was a disaster scenario for Tudor Pro Cycling Team as Rick Pluimers crashed and broke several teeth in the climb where the race-deciding attack happened; whilst one of the team’s set leaders for the classics Stefan Küng will be forced to miss the entire campaign after a fracture in the thigh area.
Bahrain – Victorious’ Vlad van Mechelen also experienced a fractured collarbone at Omloop het Nieuwsblad, ending a spring campaign where he had been given the freedom to pursue his results.
Omloop het Nieuwsblad saw around a dozen crashed in the latter stages of the race, showcasing the worrying trend of an increase of crashes. The race was almost fully decided by this, with the peloton being constantly split by it; with a crash happening in the moment of Florian Vermeersch’s attack; and the chase to Mathieu van der Poel’s leading group also being heavily affected by them.
In a recent interview, Italian veteran Matteo Trentin also showed himself very worried and sees that the reasons for the increase in crashes is coming from several sources; from the organizers’ lack of attention to detail in sprint finishes to riders increasingly taking unnecessary risks in the peloton. “Who has to change? The organizers? Yes, but also the riders with their sports directors, because sometimes risks are taken when there is absolutely no need,” Kuurne – Bruxelles – Kuurne’s third place said in February