“We have heard nothing about glass shards or sabotage” – Le Samyn organisers respond to Wout van Aert claims

Organisers of Le Samyn have rejected suggestions that anything suspicious lay behind Wout van Aert’s race-ending puncture, insisting that no evidence of sabotage has emerged following the event.

Van Aert’s comeback race unravelled deep in the finale when he suffered a puncture inside the final 10 kilometres. Speaking afterwards, the Belgian pointed to shards of glass on the road and suggested their sudden appearance on a circuit the riders had already covered several times was unusual.

Race director Ludwig De Winter said the organisers had received no indication that anything abnormal had occurred. “We have heard nothing about glass shards or sabotage,” De Winter said in response to the remarks, speaking in comments reported by Sporza.

The former professional rider explained that race officials and local authorities had already reviewed the situation as part of their normal post-race procedures and found no cause for concern.

“We already had a debriefing with the police and security services, and nothing suspicious was reported. As far as we know, there was no incident or deliberate action on our course.”

De Winter acknowledged that punctures are not uncommon in a race like Le Samyn, particularly on a route that features repeated passages over cobbled sectors.

“In a race like the Ename Samyn Classic, there are always punctures. That was also the case yesterday, especially on or just after the cobbles. I think Wout’s puncture was simply due to an unfortunate coincidence.”

He also pointed to the broader race situation as another reason to doubt that any deliberate interference had taken place. “If it were sabotage, you would expect that more than just Van Aert would have been affected.”

Instead, De Winter described the incident as one of the unpredictable moments that often shape races of this type. “It’s a race incident like we see quite often, and it’s especially unfortunate for Wout himself.”

While disagreeing with the suggestion that anything unusual had happened on the course, De Winter was careful not to criticise Van Aert personally for raising the possibility.

“Maybe he noticed something else, but that information has certainly not reached us.”

The race director also emphasised his respect for the Belgian star. “Personally, I really admire the way he races and his perseverance. His reaction doesn’t change that at all.”

Van Aert’s puncture ultimately ruled him out of the decisive phase of the race, which was won by Jordi Meeus after Visma team-mate Per Strand Hagenes was caught inside the final kilometre.