"The gap was coming down after the Kwaremont attack, and I knew I could get close on the Paterberg. That would be the last chance."

Those were the words of Lars Boom after Dwars Door Vlaanderen. Boom opened Belgium's cobblestone season with a solo attack on the most famous Belgian cobblestone sector - Oude Kwaremont - following crucial assistance from teammates Borut Bozic and Dmitriy Gruzdev.

With 50km to go and four breakaway riders holding the peloton at around one minute, Boom sought to join them. Solo for 2k on the muddy cobbles of Oude Kwaremont, Boom already had 20 seconds advantage, and on TV he was moving faster than the escapees in front of him. 

On wet asphalt after more than three hours of racing, Boom was just a few dozen seconds from accomplishing his goal when he slipped on a dark and un-dry square of road and fell to the ground and slid into a green field. Just behind Boom the race TV motorcycle crashed and Boom was lucky to avoid more than just a few scrapes and cuts to his arm and back.

Next race in two days: E3 Harelbeke.