How Neilson Powless stunned 'selfish' Wout van Aert after 'huge mistake' in 3v1 sprint finale at Dwars door Vlaanderen
Updated 02/04/2025 at 18:23 GMT+1
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Wout van Aert admitted to being "selfish" and making a "huge mistake" as he missed out on victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen to Neilson Powless (EF Education–EasyPost). Van Aert's Visma-Lease a Bike had three riders in the four-man sprint finale but it was Powless who came out on top. Powless said that "never in a million years" did he expect to beat Van Aert in a sprint.
Highlights: Powless stuns Van Aert to take ‘greatest win of his career’
Video credit: TNT Sports
It long looked like the day would belong to Visma-Lease a Bike, but it turned out to be Neilson Powless' time to shine instead.
In a dramatic finale to Dwars door Vlaanderen, Powless (EF Education–EasyPost) out-sprinted three Visma riders, including Wout van Aert, to claim a stunning win.
Visma had seemingly set everything up for a Van Aert victory as they broke the peloton with a strong pace on the front and got three out of four riders in the breakaway.
However, in scenes reminiscent of Team Sky's Ian Stannard overcoming three QuickStep riders to win Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2015, it was Powless who triumphed against the odds.
Van Aert could only hang his head at the line and admitted afterwards that he had been "selfish" in pursuit of victory.
"I am fully responsible for this loss," he said. "I made the call to go for a sprint and I asked Matteo [Jorgenson] and Tiesj [Benoot] to control in the final and bring it to the line.
"I was confident that I could win the sprint but in the sprint I cramped completely and Neilson Powless turned out to be stronger.
"It’s a mistake because I was too selfish in the final, I wanted this victory so bad, especially after all the criticism I have been through and bad luck I have been through in the last year.
"I was thinking about myself and I wanted no chance that we messed around and one of my team-mates won the race.
"That was a huge mistake, it is not who I am and that is why I am extremely disappointed."
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Van Aert says he is ‘fully responsible’ for Visma defeat - ‘I was too selfish’
Video credit: TNT Sports
With Van Aert looking to win the race for the first time, Visma opted not to try and drop Powless from the four-man group but instead plump for a sprint finish.
Benoot and Jorgenson led Van Aert around the final corner with Powless at the back of the group.
Jorgenson peeled off with 250m remaining, and it came down to a sprint between Van Aert and Powless.
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'Not in a million years' – ‘Proud’ Powless never thought he could beat Van Aert in sprint
Video credit: TNT Sports
Van Aert might have been the favourite, but it was Powless who powered to the line to claim victory.
"I really can’t believe it," said Powless. "I felt really strong today, but I didn’t think I had any chance to win from that group, I thought I was riding for second place. I am so happy.
"It’s been a rough spring for me so far but today I am so happy to be back where I know I can be."
On the sprint with Van Aert, Powless added: "I thought Wout was going to be the strongest in the sprint.
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'It was the wrong decision' - Jorgenson admits to Visma tactical error
Video credit: TNT Sports
"They were really betting on him and I never thought in a million years I would beat him in a sprint.
"I think I came in with a bit of speed into the final corner. I already had 3-4km an hour faster than Wout when he started his sprint and I just went all the way to the line, and I was able to carry the speed quite well."
Jorgenson said Visma had performed a "beautiful race until 10km to go".
"We decided to go for the sprint with Wout and it was the wrong decision," he added. "We also underestimated Neilson so really chapeau to Neilson and congrats, that was a great sprint from him."
Van Aert will be back in action this weekend as he takes on Mathieu van der Poel at the Tour of Flanders, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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