Remco Evenepoel takes first Belgian jersey on the road in Izegem, Alec Segaert nicely second

The Belgian championship got off to a flying start in Izegem. After the first hour of racing, the riders achieved an average of 50 kilometers per hour. The course was tough, with three climbs of the Kemmelberg.

The heavy Kemmelberg

After the climbs in Heuvelland, a leading group was formed including Wout Van Aert, Yves Lampaert, Sep Vanmarcke and Gianni Vermeersch. The escapees pushed hard, and extended a lead of two minutes.

Lampaert for his own people

Lampaert and Van Aert found each other at 60 kilometers from the finish. They rode off the rest of the leading group and took off with two. Alpecin-Deceuninck was the only team to chase.

It was actually Julien Vermote from Kortrijk who showed up on the front row of the peloton. At 32 kilometers from the end, Van Aert and Lampaert were caught. It wasn’t long before Lampaert’s teammate left. World champion Remco Evenepoel left, with Alec Segaert from Lendelede, Victor Campenaerts and Dries De Bondt briefly in his wheel. Stan Dewulf, Tiesj Benoot, Jasper Stuyven, Jasper Debuyst, Daan Soete and Dries Devenyns also joined. Nine men who were half a minute ahead with just under twenty kilometers to go.

Evenepoel attacked with ten kilometers to go, with Alec Segaert in the wheel. The world champion completely shook up the leading group and took off with Segaert. The barely 20-year-old Segaert had a formidable race. He went to the finish together with Evenepoel. It is Evenepoel who won the sprint and has become the new Belgian cycling champion.