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Watch: Mathieu van der Poel goes down in horrible crash at Danilith Nokere Koerse

Cyclocross world champion taken off on a stretcher in an ambulance after terrible crash at mid-week cobbled classic likely ending much anticipated cobbled season

Mathieu van der Poel’s classics campaign came crashing down before it ever really got started on Wednesday.

In the hectic finale of Danilith Nokere Koerse, the cyclocross superstar was taken out in a horrific crash along with riders from Trek-Segrafedo, CCC and Team Sunweb. The cyclocross world champion was competing in his first event of a much-anticipated debut cobbled classics season.

Van der Poel was taken off on a stretcher. After further examination at the hospital, they found no broken bones but he had considerable abrasions and bruises from the crash. According to his team, he will be able to complete his road program as originally planned. The Dutch road champion is scheduled to race Gent-Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Brabantse Pijl and the Amstel Gold Race.

Cees Bol of Team Sunweb won the mid-week classic ahead of Pascal Ackermann of Bora-Hansgrohe and Jasper Philipsen of UAE Emirates.

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?? Nokere Koerse didn’t end as we expected. A nasty crash for Mathieu van der Poel in the final straight line and afterwards they took him away with the ambulance to the hospital. Luckily, no fractures has been determined. Only abrasions and bruises. With these circumstances, he will be able to complete his road program as planned || ?? Nokere Koerse liep voor ons team helemaal mis in de finale. Een lelijke val voor Mathieu van der Poel in de laatste honderden meters, waarna hij werd afgevoerd naar het ziekenhuis. Gelukkig werden er geen breuken vastgesteld, enkel kneuzingen en schaafwonden. Zonder onvoorziene wendingen kan Mathieu van der Poel zijn wegprogramma afwerken zoals gepland. #CorendonCircus #MVDP #NokereKoerse ?⚪️

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