Sporza cycling journalist Maarten Vangramberen returned to the spicy statements of Van Aert and Van der Poel in Sportweekend.
“Did they make each other lose? Van Aert claims so, Van der Poel claims not. But above all we should not get involved in a yes-no game”, says Vangramberen.
“Van Aert and Van der Poel must now especially ensure that this does not escalate, because otherwise neither of them will win the Tour of Flanders next week.”
“Just look at the 1976 Tour. Then there was a similar rivalry between Freddy Maertens and Roger De Vlaeminck. Walter Planckaert eventually won.”
“Now, Van Aert and Van der Poel are sensible champions, so I don’t think it will escalate.”
“What happened in Gent-Wevelgem is not entirely new. Van Aert and Van der Poel are not friends – they shouldn’t be at all – but they are not enemies. They have been sporting rivals for a long time.”
“That has been the case for the past 10 years, with some excelling more than others, and that will be the case for the next 10 years. After all, they both fell into a pot of magic potion.”
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Maarten Vangramberen in Sports Weekend about the Van Aert-Van der Poel game (after 1’08 “):
