American Jorgenson wins Dwars door Vlaanderen as van Aert breaks collarbone

Finally Jorgenson gets the win he's been grinding for, as van Aert, Stuyven and Girmay are carted off to hospital after horrendous high speed bunch crash. Van Aert out the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and the Amstel Gold Race.

The pro's returned to action for mid-week racing in the Flemish classics, gearing up for the final test before the Ronde van Vlaanderen this upcoming weekend. 

A big crash at high speed then completely disrupted the race. As one of the main victims, Van Aert sat groaning in pain on the asphalt. Visibly affected and badly injured, the Belgian left the race  in an ambulance. At the hospital, it was later revealed that Van Aert broke his collarbone and several ribs. As a result, Van Aert will not participate in the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and the Amstel Gold Race.

"Unfortunately, Wout van Aert suffered several fractures in the crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen today," the Team Visma | Lease a Bike statement read. "A broken collarbone and several broken ribs were diagnosed in hospital. It is unclear how long his recovery will take.

"Van Aert will definitely miss the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and the Amstel Gold Race."

VIDEO: HUGE CRASH in Dwars door Vlaanderen

Teammate's Jorgenson and Benoot were forced to change tack and ended up in a strong leading group of six.

It was Benoot who launched several attacks and smoked out the competition several times, allowing Jorgenson to launch an all-out attack with 7km to go. The American taking his second victory of the season after the final stage in Paris-Nice.

"It's incredible. This season is really surpassing my wildest dreams," Jorgensen stammered after the race. "The presence of Tiesj allowed us to play off the situation as a duo. We did that perfectly. The situation bombed us as favorites, but we just had to do it. Fortunately, we were able to do it. I'm very happy with my first win in a one-day race."

Benoot, eventually fourth, recounted his findings. "We were ready with the team to ignite the race. At I think eighty kilometers per hour, quite a few riders, including Wout, crashed down. I had him in my head for the rest of the race. But the switch had to be turned. We did everything we could to win the race. Matteo was very strong and I'm glad he finished it off. With my own condition today, I am also satisfied. However, that feeling doesn't stick with me. I am very happy with Matteo's victory, but at the same time I feel terrible for Wout," Benoot said.

It is not the first time that Van Aert has suffered severe bad luck in the build up to the Tour of Flanders. The Belgian was forced to miss the race after testing positive for Covid in 2022. Last year in Paris-Roubaix, he suffered a puncture in the closing stages which ultimately forced him out of contention as a select lead group containing Mathieu van der Poel, Van Aert and Jasper Philipsen headed towards the finish in the Roubaix velodrome. 

The versatile Van Aert, who won the 2021 Amstel Gold Race and has nine individual Tour de France stage wins, was targeting maiden victories at Flanders and in Paris-Roubaix this year. He will hope to be back in time to make his planned debut at the Giro d'Italia, which begins on 4 May and where he is hoping for stage wins, having said he is set to skip this year's Tour de France.

Dutch great Marianne Vos won the women's Dwars door Vlaanderen by beating Shirin van Anrooij in a sprint.

Paris-Roubaix takes place on 7 April, with the Amstel Gold Race on 14 April.

Good news is Biniam Girmay and Laurenz Rex did not sustain any factures following their crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen.

VIDEO: 2024 Dwars door Vlaanderen Highlights

2024 Dwars door Vlaanderen Top 10

1. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Visma-Lease-a-Bike 4:10'43"
2. Jonas Abrahamsen (NOR) Uno-X Mobility +29"
3. Stefan Küng (SUI) Groupama-FDJ
4. Tiesj Benoot (BEL) Visma-Lease-a-Bike
5. Dries De Bondt (BEL) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale, all S.T.
6. Josh Tarling (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers +44"
7. Jonathan Milan (ITA) Lidl-Trek +1'47"
8. Michael Valgren (DEN) EF Education-EasyPost
9. Mathias Norsgaard (DEN) Movistar
10. Thomas Gachignard (FRA) TotalEnergies, all S.T.