“You’ve lost your title, haven’t you”

Two round winners at the coffee table. Freddy Maertens with Michel Pollentier in Nieuwpoort, during the last mountain stage in the Vuelta. Freddy Maertens was the last Belgian winner of the Vuelta, he now finally, 45 years later, has a Belgian successor.

Pollentier (when looking at the last kilometers): “I would attack myself if I were Evenepoel. I wouldn’t hold back. If you can drive a bit uphill? At three kilometers from the top, there is nothing you can do more will happen. And then it’s still four kilometers flat! I wouldn’t give it a shot.”

“You have lost your title”

When Remco crosses the line, Maertens has to give in. He is no longer the last Belgian overall winner of the Vuelta. “You’ve lost it young, your title! Yes, sorry young, your title… It has held out for a long time! But it’s not a West Flemish man! Ah no. You don’t have a West Flemish successor yet!”

Round of France? I do not know yet…

Pollentier: “It’s someone who has the capacity to win another big round somewhere, isn’t it. I’m not going to say, France… You don’t know. Wait and see. He has now shown that he can handle a lot. 2500 meters? Yes, so hey. Driving long laps of three weeks? Yes, so hey. Those doubts have been removed. Of course you will always be with Pogacar for a few years and Vingegaard for a few years…”

Pollentier and Maertens: “Remco will not ride the Tour de France next year. I don’t believe that. I’ve heard it said. Mo, yes? No, I don’t believe that. I wouldn’t do it. I would try to win the Giro again first.”

Eritreans and Colombians

They’re all young guys now. Look at Pogacar. Carapaz… That wasn’t with us in the past, neither were Eritreans and Colombians… Ah no, that didn’t exist yet. Yes, they did, but they weren’t racing yet! …

Now we are in Belgium with many good young riders. There is Evenepoel. Uytdebroecks! Yes, that one too. Van Wilder, and maybe we forget some. There is talent for grand tours now. But it’s not easy to win…