Mathieu van der Poel fits for GP Sven Nys due to rib pain after collision with a post

The Grand Prix Sven Nys in Baal has lost its biggest attraction with Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutchman decided at the last minute to withdraw because the pain in his ribs became worse after a crash in Loenhout. He is discussing with the medical staff whether he can race in Koksijde the day after tomorrow.

We learned last Friday in Loenhout that Mathieu van der Poel is not infallible, where he briefly lost control of his bicycle and mowed away a pole during his triumphal procession.

A seemingly silly slip-up, because two days later it was back in Besançon business as usual for the world champion.

But it turns out that the collision with the post was not so innocent after all. “Mathieu has quite a lot of pain in his rib,” reports his team Alpecin-Deceuninck.

“The discomfort has only become worse in recent days. After consultation with the medical staff, the difficult decision was made this morning not to let Mathieu start in Baal.”

It is still unclear whether the rib pain also means that Van der Poel will have to cancel Koksijde (Friday) and perhaps even Dendermonde (Sunday). “We will continue to monitor his situation closely to make a decision on this.”

In any case, this cancellation is a new blow for the organization of the GP Sven Nys, because Michael Vanthourenhout (ill) and Lars van der Haar (knee pain) also dropped out.

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