Skjelmose describes having to be carried off his bike at Flèche Wallonne | Video

Mattias Skjelmose lost control of his body and had to be carried off his bike in an incident capture on video by a spectator at Flèche Wallonne

Mattias Skjelmose was shaking uncontrollably when he came to a stop as he abandoned Flèche Wallonne and was then so cold he had to be carried from the roadside and off towards the team buses as he was unable to walk.

The Dane, riding for Lidl-Trek, suffered very badly in the cold and wet conditions on the day, with hypothermia setting in by the time he called it quits on the second of the four ascents of the Mur de Huy.

“I have indeed not been able to show myself yet, unfortunately, but I do know how I felt on the bike," he told Wielerflits, he said of being forced out of the race he finished 2nd in last year.

"My biggest mistake? I wasn't prepared for the rain. The Uno-X Mobility guys were and maybe they even had too warm at the start of the race, but it saved them in the end. For a moment I thought they would neutralise the race."

Advertisement

"I really felt good in the Amstel and that was also the case during the first ascent of the Mur de Huy in the Flèche Wallonne, just before I got freezing cold."

Related News

However, he also said he had recovered from the ordeal and was not set to ride Liège-Bastogne-Liège, hoping for a result.

“I am really convinced that I will fight for the podium on Sunday in Liège. I see myself standing there with Tadej and Mathieu. But we will see in what order that is on Sunday.”

Related News