Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) has claimed his first-ever National Road Race title after a dramatic two-up sprint battle against young Lotto-Dstny pro Alec Segaert, while Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) then claimed the bronze.
On a blisteringly hot day in west Flanders, the reigning World Champion broke away with Segaert from a late counter-attack of nine riders.
The 230 kilometre race had been marked by a dramatic early break including Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma). It was only in the final hour that the last two survivors, Van Aert and Yves Lampaert (Soudal-QuickStep) were reeled in
Evenepoel and Segaert, already second in the Nationals Time Trial on Thursday, first charged away in a group of nine then went clear with around 10 kilometres to go. After a couple of sharp digs en route to the finish, Evenepoel still had enough strength to claim his first ever Belgian road race title.
“I am very pleased specially after Thursday’s disappointment,” Evenepoel added, referring to the championships time trial where he crashed out of contention in the rain.
"This was a very difficult race due to the weather and its length. Lampaert and Van Aert did a lot of the early work and I could wait for my moment - it was ideal.”
Evenepoel admitted that he not been in a great place in the first half of the race, because, he said “I always feel rough after the Belgian Championships time trial, I find it hard in the first couple of hours of the road race.”
“It wasn’t until the last couple of circuits that I felt good, and decided to try my luck.”
How it unfolded
Van Aert's early counterattack in a group of seven on the Kemmelberg obliged his rivals in the main bunch to chase hard, particularly as the lead group of 11 that eventually formed also contained two of Van Aert’s teammates, Nathan van Hooydonck and Tosh van der Sande.
In an ultra-fast race that finished well ahead of schedule, Soudal-QuickStep and Alpecin-Deceuninck put in the bulk of the work behind, as Van Aert used his domestiques ahead.
Finally the furious chase paid off for the pursuers, with only Van Aert and local rider Lampaert surviving and then staying clear for nearly 30 kilometres. But as soon as they were reeled in, Evenepoel forged another major break of nine, also containing Segaert, Stuyven and Evenepoel’s teammate Dries Devenyns.
Rather than risk it all on a small bunch sprint, Evenepoel then opted to power away in the closing kilometres, with only Segaert able to follow. Not famed for his sprint, Evenepoel went from long, finally claiming the victory over Segaert just ahead of the main pack. "I didn't know if Alec was playing games when he didn't want to take a turn, but I have to congratulate him on getting two silver medals, he was very strong," Evenepoel said.
“ I trusted my sprint. It was a very long one, but I still had that little bit of explosiveness left."
For Evenepoel the Belgian National Champion’s jersey, which he’ll wear until next June, represents ‘insurance’ should he lose the rainbow jersey in Glasgow.
“It’s a nice back-up", Evenepoel agreed. "In Scotland it will be difficult to reconquer my title. I am very pleased, especially after Thursday's disappointment."
Results
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