“We had a good chat and everything is finished” – Jens Debusschere on his clash with John Degenkolb

Belgian rider Jens Debusschere (Lotto-Soudal) has spoken about his clash with John Degenkolb at the World Championships in October, and how the two riders have put the incident behind them.

The 2015 Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix showed his anger by squirting liquid at Jens Debusschere at the Worlds when the German rider’s efforts at orchestrating a chase to try and bring back the front group were hampered by the Belgian team. The pair could also be seen arguing afterwards.

“Yes, that’s settled,” Debusschere told Het Laatste Nieuws. “John contacted me after the World Championships. We had a good chat and everything is finished. It’s a good thing. He knew himself that we have raced against each other a long time and we have never had problems with each other.”

Debusschere is hoping for better luck in 2017 than he had in the past season. The Belgian won Dwars door Vlaanderen, but then crashed in Gent-Wevelgem where he suffered a concussion amongst other injuries. He was off the bike for a time, but returned in the summer. However, he crashed again heavily in the Tour de France.

“It was annoying,” says Debusschere. “I had a mediocre season which I had started very strongly. My condition was a hundred percent when it should have been. At Milan-San Remo I rode well, I won Dwars door Vlaanderen, but yes, I fell and was out of competition.”

“This is a disaster for a rider. Perhaps I was good at the end of the season good, but not as good as in other years. Usually I win in September and October, but this year I was less strong, even at the World Championships for example.”

In the new season, Debusschere is aiming for the same goals. “I want to be good in the Flemish spring classics, aiming for a good result. I will ride almost all the classics except E3 Harelbeke. The team are collectively very strong. With the team, I believe strongly that we can take control of the direction of races.”