Video: Wout van Aert rides himself to a standstill at Strade Bianche

Video Wout van Aert Strade Bianche climb
Wout van Aert rode the final climb until his legs gave way and he fell off. But as the clips show, when he dropped to the tarmac he scrambled back on despite being legless.

The current world cyclocross champion, Wout van Aert has taken 3rd in Strade Bianche today despite riding himself to a standstill on the final climb.

Having ridden the finale in a two-man move with Romain Bardet (Ag2r-La Mondiale), the two riders hit the final climb to the Piazza del Campo together.

By that point Tiesj Benoot (Lotto-Soudal) had ridden across to them and attacked the pair. The 23-year-old would solo to victory.

And just behind, the battle for the remaining places in the podium was between Bardet and Van Aert. The Frenchman would prevail in the end, riding away to the runner-up slot.

Van Aert's legs cramped badly until he literally came to a standstill and fell to the ground. A well-intentioned push from a spectator helped him on his way.

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But with a chase group breathing down his neck, a legless Van Aert scrambled back onto his bike and held on for 3rd place.

His result follows his breakaway ride in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite (1.UWT) last weekend.

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Benoot was very impressive out front, to take his first pro fine in fine style. After he attacked Bardet and Van Aert on the final gravel section.

And from that moment, even though there were 12km remaining, the race looked like having only won winner.

By the finish the young Belgian had 39 seconds in hand over Bardet. Wout Van Aert, riding for Veranda's Willems Crelan, was another 19 seconds back.

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