'I can't hold my handlebars properly anymore' – Mathieu van der Poel sheds light on the crash and injury which left him out of the running at Milan-San Remo

Mathieu van der Poel has confirmed that a gruesome finger injury sustained during Milan-San Remo severely hampered his performance, ultimately leading to his withdrawal from contention. The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider, who finished tenth, revealed he suffered a deep laceration and potential ligament damage to his left middle finger after a crash involving a spectator's phone. He stated, "I can't hold my handlebars properly anymore," indicating the extent of the impairment.

This revelation provides crucial context to Van der Poel's uncharacteristically subdued performance at La Primavera, where he was a pre-race favourite and defending champion. His inability to properly grip the handlebars on descents and during crucial attacks on the Poggio explains his absence from the decisive moves, a stark contrast to his dominant form in recent weeks. For a rider whose explosive power and bike handling are paramount, such an injury fundamentally alters his race dynamic and raises questions about his upcoming Classics campaign.

While the immediate prognosis seems to avoid major structural damage, Van der Poel's candid admission underscores the razor-thin margins at the elite level, where even a minor, externally inflicted injury can derail a champion's aspirations.