Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 9:34 AM
Due to the very bad conditions – with cold temperatures, rain and wet snow – many riders were struck by the cold during the Flèche Wallonne. For example, a completely hypothermic Mattias Skjelmose even had to be carried off the bike. Extreme conditions, aptly described by Michal Kwiatkowski.
The Polish former world champion – who did not manage to reach the finish, just like his six (!) other teammates from INEOS Grenadiers – followingwards came up with an interesting comparison on X. “If you want to understand what kind of shock it was for the body , imagine taking three shots of vodka on an empty stomach. The effects hit you in a millisecond. And even now there are riders who survive. Respect for winners Stephen Williams and Katarzyna Niewiadoma!”
If you want to understand the shock my body went through with today’s storm at Fleche, just imagine downing three shots of vodka on an empty stomach. The effect hits you in milliseconds. Yet, some of riders did survive. Huge respect for the winners: @KNiewiadoma & @stevierhys_96… pic.twitter.com/mDwhEXcGpf
— Michał Kwiatkowski (@kwiato) April 17, 2024
Due to the appalling weather conditions, the 88th edition of the Flèche Wallonne became a sporting battlefield. Among the men, only 44 brave drivers topped the Wall of Huy last time. A rider who had to give up along the way, Mattias Skjelmose, was completely overcome by the cold. Images show how the Dane from Lidl-Trek had to be helped off the bike, shaking and jerking, following he threatened to fall over.
A Lidl-Trek employee and a spectator then lifted him off the course to a warm place where he might warm up. Skjelmose is now feeling better. “No major treatments are necessary and everything is under control,” Lidl-Trek said via social media.
Bauke Mollema was only one of three Dutch people who managed to finish in the Flèche Wallonne. The experienced climber from Lidl-Trek, a teammate of the completely hypothermic Skjelmose, was well prepared at the start. “It just got very cold on those laps, due to the wet snow and a temperature of 5 degrees,” he said followingwards. CyclingFlits.
“Then you get soaking wet and you never get warm once more. I felt so cold followingwards. Then you have none at all power more in the legs and it’s done. You can no longer go deep and exert force.”