Van Aert takes over Roeselare, but Lampaert wins
By helicopter
If you can take the green jersey, the prize for fighting spirit and three stage victories in the Tour, then the weeks after the Tour de France are also well filled. A sponsorship obligation in Den Bosch ensured that Van Aert was flown by helicopter to Roeselare. A little after a quarter past six he landed on the site of Dovy Kitchens, the main sponsor of the criterion.
Wout and bicycle have arrived. 🙂 @dovykeukens #Roeselare #natour criterion pic.twitter.com/xqX2XIjVS0
— Natour criterium Roeselare (@natourroeselare) July 26, 2022
sea of people
Roeselare was therefore ahead of Van Aert. An estimated 40,000 cycling fans wanted to see the hero of the Tour de France ride through the streets of the city up close. People were waiting in line, both in the VIP tent and along the entire course. (Read more below the photos)
Wallays surprises yellow jersey Lampaert
The Natour criterium of Roeselare starts with a short time trial. Every rider gets the chance to explore the course once, one lap. A great moment for Yves Lampaert, the winner of the prologue of the Tour in Copenhagen. He was allowed to complete the two-kilometre mini-time trial in his yellow jersey. Still, the victory in the time trial did not go to “Lampie”. He was third, one second behind Wout van Aert and four seconds behind the winner: Jelle Wallays. His time of 3 minutes fourteen seconds remains on the tables.
Lampaert wins in his backyard
The criterion itself, of course, was the great Wout-van-Aert show. After signing autographs on the assembly line – before the start – Van Aert was even allowed to ‘skip’ a round and then continue the course with a new wheel. He also seasoned the spectacle himself, with the necessary attacks in the final. But Wout didn’t win in Roeselare. In a sprint with two he had to give in to Yves Lampaert.