Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas explained that he was lucky to survive this successful round of Belgian races, having won the E3 Harelbeke on Friday and placing third in Ghent-Wevelgem.

The Welshman, known simply as ‘G’, boldly bounced back after a crash late into the Ghent-Wevelgem classic. He fought for the win and finished in good position for the upcoming monuments, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.

“That crash wasn’t ideal,” Thomas told Cycling Weekly. “Fortunately, it was just on the grass and I was able to get straight back up and get going again.

“It was just hard to stay on the road. I said afterwards, maybe I need to put some kilos on. Then I heard Gert Steegmans got blown off the road, so it’s not just the weight. It’s just unbelievable.”

With less than 60 kilometers to race in the 239-kilometer classic, a huge gust of wind pushed Thomas off the road and onto the grass shoulder. He unclipped his right foot in an attempt to keep his balance, but went head over his bike and landed on his left shoulder.

Mostly unhurt, he immediately jumped up after the scare and chased back on to the front group of five only five kilometers later.

“It was just a gust that took me and pushed me off the road,” Thomas said after taking the flowers and Champagne for third place. “That was just some day, full gas and stress!”

Thomas followed a breakaway by Belgian Stijn Vandenbergh (Etixx-QuickStep) at 70 kilometers to go in the race. The group grew to seven cyclists, including eventual winner Italian Luca Paolini (Katusha), Vandenbergh’s Etixx team-mate and 2014 Paris-Roubaix winner Niki Terpstra, and Belgian champion Jens Debusschere (Lotto-Soudal). Debusschere’s teammate Jürgen Roelandts raced solo ahead.

His group caught Roelandts with 18 kilometers remaining. Paolini attacked solo with six kilometers to Wevelgem while the others hesitated and hung back.

“Obviously, I was expecting Etixx to do more and Jens [Debusschere], as well, because most of the time he sat on. I couldn’t follow everything and I had to gamble a bit. That was unfortunate, but at least I managed to get on the podium in the end,” Thomas added.

“When I did get with Niki to chase, at least he pulled with me. Third after a long day isn’t that bad.

“It’s been pretty successful these last three days. It was a great win for myself, I was super motivated and chuffed with that. Today, I could feel the effects still, but I think everybody could.”

Thomas will race the last two big cobbled classics, Flanders and Roubaix, before taking a break to make preparations for the Tour de France. With his win and third place, he is a favorite to win in the next two weeks.