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Wout van Aert's return to racing hits another snag at the Ename Samyn Classic. The Visma-Lease a Bike star suffers a late puncture and two bike changes, ending his hopes for victory. After fracturing his ankle in January and battling a stomach bug, Van Aert finally races but faces misfortune again.
With 10km to go, he switches bikes with teammate Pietro Matteo but can’t keep pace with the charging peloton. He finishes alone, well behind the leaders. Van Aert notes, "Suddenly, there were a lot of shards of glass on the road," suggesting unusual circumstances. He adds, "That smells like sabotage," though he clarifies it wasn’t directed at him. The crowd applauds his effort, but the disappointment lingers. Van Aert's plans to challenge for victory are dashed once more.
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