Rick Pluimers apologises after decisive Omloop crash: “Luckily our soigneur’s wife is a dentist”

So what exactly happened on the Molenberg? “Florian (Vermeersch, UAE Team Emirates–XRG) opened a small gap and I wanted to close it, but I think I just slid off the crown of the cobbles and both wheels slipped at the same time,” Pluimers explained afterwards. The result was a heavy impact on the stones.

Pluimers knew immediately how bad it was. “I took the hit with my face, so that was pretty rubbish. I also want to say sorry to the other guys, because you know the Molenberg is an important point. Something always happens there, and it’s frustrating that I influenced the race in that way… I’d rather not do that.”

Mathieu van der Poel was on Pluimers’ wheel at the time and somehow managed to stay upright and avoid going down. The eventual winner later apologised to Pluimers as well, saying he hadn’t been able to miss him completely. Pluimers also felt that contact. “I had the idea I got a knock after I’d already hit the ground. That was a scary moment,” he said.

“I first felt my teeth, and then that hit afterwards, so it wasn’t pleasant,” Pluimers added, referring to the moment shared online.

Van der Poel stayed clear and bridged to Vermeersch. With much of the bunch delayed by the crash, only Tim van Dijke (Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe) was able to make it across, while the rest were left chasing a race that had already slipped away. “Luckily nobody else went down — and it’s still impressive how he stays on his bike,” Pluimers said of Van der Poel.

For Pluimers himself it was a missed opportunity, as he felt strong in the Omloop. “The feeling was really good and I didn’t feel like I’d suffered yet. I think there could have been more in it, but then you have to stay on your bike,” he concluded.

And medically? “It could be better — it wasn’t the ideal moment to kiss the ground. A piece of my teeth has broken off and we’re going to sort that first, but luckily our soigneur’s wife is a dentist. She was able to make time on Saturday evening. Hopefully it’s not too bad.”