Belgium will continue to wait for a successor to Frank Vandenbroucke, the last Belgian winner of Paris-Nice.
It was in the last century, in 1998, with a champion that his country also wishes to forget for his abuse of doping and narcotics which led to his premature death at just 34 years old.
Remco Evenepoel, Belgium's finest raw talent in stage races for a long time, was aiming for final victory at Paris-Nice.
At the start of Les Mureaux, the 2022 world champion was clearly the favorite in the race to the sun.
This Sunday on the Promenade des Anglais, Evenepoel raised his arms, but it was only to celebrate his stage victory.
A small consolation prize for a runner of his ilk.
Because the Belgian from Soudal - Quick Step failed in second place in the general classification, beaten by the American Matteo Jorgenson (Visma - Lease an Bike), smarter and more daring than him over the week.
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