What will be the lasting image of this year’s Opening Weekend? Will it be Mathieu van der Poel soloing to a career-first victory at Omloop Nieuwsblad? Perhaps it will be Demi Vollering’s lotus pose salute as she won the women’s race? Or Matthew Brennan charging ahead of the field to win the sprint at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne?
For Rick Pluimers of Tudor Pro Cycling, the lasting image was sudden and sore: the sight of the cobbles on the Molenberg, inches away from his face, before they shattered his two front teeth.
