Wout van Aert will be 'absolutely gutted' as puncture ruins 'faultless' Paris-Roubaix – Adam Blythe

Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) will be “absolutely gutted” after a puncture derailed his “faultless race” at Paris-Roubaix, according to Eurosport expert Adam Blythe. The Belgian looked ominously strong as he dropped a blistering attack on the Carrefour de l'Arbre, just moments after chief rival Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin–Deceuninck) had collided with John Degenkolb (DSM), causing the latter rider to crash. Ad But promise turned to despair for Van Aert within a kilometre as a rear-wheel puncture allowed Van der Poel to disappear into clear air and leave the 28-year-old leading a forlorn chase.

Paris — Roubaix'You need luck and good legs, I had both' — Van der Poel after Paris-Roubaix winAN HOUR AGO His misery was compounded in the iconic Roubaix Velodrome when Van der Poel’s team-mate Jasper Philipsen comfortably saw him off in a sprint for second. It means Van Aert still has just one Monument to his name – at Milano-San Remo in 2020 – as he chalked up a seventh podium across cycling’s most prestigious one-day Classics. It was another blow for Van Aert, who also failed in his mission to win the Tour of Flanders for the first time last week after being distanced by Van der Poel and eventual winner Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates).

“I think he’ll be fine with Flanders because he just didn’t have the legs. It wasn’t down to a mechanical,” said Blythe on The Breakaway. “Today will hurt.

It will cut quite deep, having a puncture. «A faultless race from him, followed the moves, didn’t do too much work. “He probably did the least amount of work in that group he was in – and for who he is, it’s very surprising.