The Belgians, present in numbers on the side of the road this Sunday, have long been celebrating this Sunday.
Up front, already 180 km from the finish and for a good part of the race, the young Remco Evenepoel, considered to be the next generation of Belgian cycling.
A little further, warm in the peloton, the rest of the team and a certain Wout van Aert, ultra-favorite at the start of the race.
But it was a Frenchman who finally smiled the course of the World Championships.
Julian Alaphilippe, who started solo just over 15 km from the finish, was never caught up.
A solo end of the race, where he was sometimes booed by some Belgian fans, but which did not demotivate him, quite the contrary.
Member of a Belgian team since 2013
“There were a lot of supporters who were for Belgium and Van Aert, who asked me to slow down in the final, smiled the rider of the Deceuninck-Quick Step, at the microphone of France Télévisions.
They didn't necessarily have very kind words, I thank them for making me want to ride even harder ”.
On the images of the organization, we can indeed hear some whistles, when others asked the French to let their opponents return.
WHAT AN ATTACK 🚀 @ alafpolak1 # Flanders2021 pic.twitter.com/Bca3wtMgSE
- UCI (@UCI_cycling) September 26, 2021
Nothing very bad according to the now double world champion, who paid tribute to this audience, via the voice of his coach.
“Julian told me he had a message.
He thanks the Belgian public who have known him since the start of his career.
Although he logically encouraged van Aert, he also applauded him.
It's important that you know that, ”explained Thomas Voeckler in the mixed zone.
Without any proposal from the French team, it is indeed with the Belgians that Julian Alaphilippe signed his first contract in a professional team, within the reserve of Omega Pharma-Quick Step, the current "Deceuninck », In 2013. A team he has never left since.
