"Wout was almost dead" - Wout van Aert narrowly avoids traffic accident, reported by training partner

Pro riders spend more time on the road than virtually other cyclists. Unfortunately, this puts them at a higher risk of traffic accidents, and Jan Bakelants reveals how Wout van Aert was almost hit by a concrete mixer vehicle this week in a terrifying way.

“Wout had to do interval training, but the cycle path on that road was not suitable for speeds of 40 to 45 kilometers per hour, so we rode on the road,” Bakelants said in the Wielerclub Wattage. “I know from my own experience that the average Dutch person sometimes takes the law into their own hands when they see that a cyclist is not riding on the bike path. After five minutes of cycling on the road, I suddenly heard the horn of a concrete mixer, which overtook us at the same time.”

Van Aert was training near his home in Herentals this week following his success at the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem together with former pro Bakelants and cyclocross rider Daan Soete. The trio had a close encounter with a concrete mixer, a huge vehicle, whose owner did not have the patience. “As befits a real road pirate, the driver of the concrete mixer closed the door while he was honking."

Bakelants reports that the vehicle overtook the riders as he honked, and that "Wout had no choice but to ride Daan into the side. The action of the concrete mixer was really disproportionate." The reports comes only days before the Tour of Flanders. Last year van Aert was the man to beat into the Belgian race for many but was infected with Covid-19 in the week leading up to it. This year the outcome could've been worst.

"Even though as a concrete mixer you think you have more right to ride on the concrete road than a cyclist, for which there was a poorly constructed cycle path. Wout was almost dead. He was literally almost under the concrete mixer, it was really harrowing," Bakelants concluded.