Yves Lampaert said he used a judo move to avoid serious injury at Paris-Roubaix
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl rider crashed after striking a fan last Sunday
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Yves Lampaert has claimed that his history of martial arts training saved him from serious injury at Paris-Roubaix last Sunday.
The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl was racing for a podium spot at the race before he clipped a fan standing on the side of the rode with 8km to go on the penultimate cobbled sector of Willems à Hem.
The Belgian crashed spectacularly, hitting his top tube first before catapulting over his handlebars and off the side of the road. While he still battled to 10th place, it was not the situation that he wanted to be in.
Speaking on Belgian television this week, Lampaert said that his historic training in martial arts prevented a more serious injury.
“Unconsciously I applied a judo technique,” he said on Extra Time Koers. “I’m a bit stiff, but nothing was broken. I have some bumps and bruises.”
“You fall very quickly and I didn’t think about it at the time, but I do believe that the instinct and training from judo is still in me,” he continued. “I pulled my hand away and made a rolling movement. I unconsciously applied the technique from judo. Otherwise I might have broken my collarbone.”
The Quick-Step rider explained that in judo you are taught how to break your fall in as safe a manner as possible, and therefore this helped him escape with just minor cuts and bruises, and a shock to the system.
Speaking immediately post-Roubaix on Sunday, Lampaert said that you should stay at home if you don't understand racing, describing the supporter who caused his crash as a "calf".
“Those are situations that should not happen in a race. It's a shame,” he said. “I wanted to cut that right turn and normally the supporters go backwards. But that man brought his arm forward and it hit my arm. As a result, I lost control of the bike and I couldn’t stay up.
“If you don't know anything about the race, then stay at home. For me, it was dramatic, because there was still a podium place at play. [Matej] Mohorič and [Dylan] van Baarle were stronger than me, but third place was perhaps just achievable.”
This week, Lampaert denied that he should be more careful when racing close to the spectators on the cobbled sectors, as it should be the fans who have to watch out and give the riders space in those critical moments.
“Everyone else raced on the asphalt strip next to the cobblestones, so why should I go over the cobblestones?” he said.
“Otherwise we end up in an upside-down world, and we have to pay attention to the spectators instead of the other way around.”
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s senior news and feature writer – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing, speaking to people as varied as Demi Vollering to Philippe Gilbert. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.
-
-
'I'm studying maths – my brain needs something else besides cycling': Thomas Gloag on his hunger for learning on and off the bike
The 21-year-old Londoner and new Jumbo-Visma signing on rising to the challenge as he begins his WorldTour career
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Jess Roberts doubles up at British Track Championships as 19 year-old sprinter topples Olympian
Comeback queen wins her first solo national title in the scratch race
By Vern Pitt • Published
-
In celebration of Peter Sagan, cycling's rock and roll frontman
As the three-time world champion is set to call time on his career in the WorldTour at the end of 2023, we thought we would take a look back at the glory days
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
No win for Jonas Vingegaard? Cycling Weekly's bold predictions for the 2023 season
With under a fortnight until the WorldTour kicks off this year, it is time to take a look into our crystal ball
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Speed Demons of the peloton: The six best sprinters of 2022
We take a look at the standout performers of the fast men and women in the professional scene this year
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
From the World Championships to Paris-Roubaix: Cycling Weekly's wins of 2022
It is hard to look past Annemiek van Vleuten, but we tried, so here is the best win of the year, plus nine more
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Patrick Lefevere takes swipe at Julian Alaphilippe: 'It's always the same people who are unlucky'
The outspoken Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl boss has demanded that the former world champion returns to winning ways
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Remco Evenepoel to race Giro d'Italia in 2023
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl confirm that the world champion will ride the time trial heavy Grand Tour next year
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Patrick Lefevere coy on whether Remco Evenepoel will target Tour de France in 2023
‘I don't rule out anything for Evenepoel. A good Remco can do well on every kind of course’ Quick-Step boss says
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Remco Evenepoel should ignore Ineos Grenadiers' overtures and stay put at Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl
Interest from a Grand Tour winning machine like Ineos Grenadiers is flattering, but it's not sure to realise the World Champion’s massive potential
By Tom Thewlis • Published