‘My handlebars broke on the long cobble sector’: Mathieu van der Poel on his misfortune in Le Samyn final 

The cyclocross world champion raced aggressively in the Belgian one-day race, but an unusual mechanical took away his chance at victory 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Mathieu van der Poel has revealed his handlebars broke on a long cobblestone sector in the final kilometres of Le Samyn 2021. 

Van der Poel looked to be the favourite heading into the final kilometres of the Belgian one-day race, as a reduced bunch stormed across the cobbles towards the finish after 200km of racing. 

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