"I certainly won't look at him angrily if I see him" - Tim Wellens accept Maciejuk's apologies after Tour of Flanders crash, talks recovery after injuries

Tim Wellens has dealt quite well with his move to UAE Team Emirates, however his spring ended prematurely at the Tour of Flanders. The team nevertheless supported Tadej Pogacar to a strong win on the day, as Wellens was taken out by a mass crash, but now talks of the subject after recovery.

“The first days after the fall were not so much fun. Difficult and extremely painful. It was my first ever breakup and I was going a little light on it. I underestimated it a bit in that respect," Wellens told Het Laatste Nieuws. "Some riders break their collarbone and are back in the saddle after about three days. But I was unable to do that.”

Filip Maciejuk lost control of his bike during the Ronde and Wellens was the first rider to go down in that situation. Many riders crashed but Wellens was one of the few who abandoned, suffering a fractured collarbone. It was a very unpleasant experience the following weeks, he explained: “Even when I got around to mobilizing again, it wasn't pleasant because I was afraid of doing something wrong.

"The worst is over, although I still feel it. When I dock over cobblestones, I lean more on my right hand than on my left so as not to have to absorb too many shocks there," he admits. "I also regularly go to the physiotherapist. From mid-May to the beginning of June, I go on altitude training to the Sierra Nevada with the team. Then I ride the Tour de Suisse. The goal is to make it to the Tour selection.”

Wellens is now back on the bike and looks to, after some time off the bike, rebuild his form. He's teamed up with Tim Wellens on several occasions this season and the duo worked together, with the Belgian setting up explosive attacks too. UAE Team Emirates have finally built a very strong block to support the also currently-injured Pogacar at the Tour de France, so Wellens will need to show the form in order to be selected to the Grand Boucle.

On Bahrain-Victorious' Maciejuk, Wellens commented. “On social media he was dealt with harshly after the incident, his name was dragged through the mud. Of course the boy shouldn't have done that. But there was no malicious intent involved. The next day he sent me a very friendly message. That's enough for me. I certainly won't look at him angrily if I see him."