[1][2] Eric Vanderaerden, a promising young Belgian, suffered a broken wheel at a critical point in the race, but managed to return to the back of the peloton by the foot of the Koppenberg, 70 km from the finish.

Slaloming around others who had to shoulder their bikes up the hill, he was back in fifteenth place at the top, before setting out in an improbable pursuit of the leaders.

[4] As a storm caused further havoc, the lead group became 6 riders, with Sean Kelly, Greg LeMond, Adrie van der Poel and Phil Anderson.

Vanderaerden and his teammate Phil Anderson combined and bridged the gap with Kuiper at the base of the Muur van Geraardsbergen.

[4] The high volume of water made roads extremely slick and concealed potholes, with the potential to take riders or their tyres out.