The time trialists had to complete a lap of 39 km on and around the military domain in Koksijde. Wout van Aert was the fastest on the first intermediate point and continued to expand his lead. He took the final gold in 50’10 ”with a lead of half a minute.
It was for the rider of Jumbo-Visma his first time trial after his heavy fall in the Tour time trial in Pau last year and after the Strade Bianche, Milan-Sanremo and the first stage in the Critérium du Dauphiné, his fourth victory of this season.
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“As a favorite you have the mental advantage, but you still have to do it”, responded Van Aert. “It was a race on power, but still more technical than expected. There were some curves in it. The plan was to have some left over in the last lap, but to be honest, it was racing on character. Fortunately, I already had a nice lead, which is good for the moral. I am happy with this title, hopefully I can show that tricolor more than last year. ”
Next Saturday he will start as a servant for Jumbo-Visma in the Tour, although he (and all Belgian cycling enthusiasts) hopes that he will also be able to ride a few times at his own expense and chase a stage win. Last year he won the Tour stage in Albi. “Yes I am going to ignore myself, that remains the plan. But there will be some opportunities, and I will try to seize them. ”
–Victor Campenaerts had to be content with silver. — © Photo News
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Campenaerts: “And now grab gold at the European Championship”
Victor Campenaerts, who had a hard time two weeks ago in the team time trial in the Tour of the Czech Republic, where he broke two vertebrae, had to be satisfied with second place. “I finish thirty seconds behind the best rider in the world, so that’s certainly not bad. I am satisfied, because the condition is good despite the fact that I had no ideal preparation due to that fall. But the injury didn’t bother me. It was also a nice course, luckily it continued. During the reconnaissance it was still dangerous. I had explored the course well, but at every corner I thought: Wout is faster here. A motocrosser cannot follow you in the corners, and he knows it here in Koksijde from cyclocross, hey (laughs) But come on to Monday. ”
On Monday he hopes to do better at the European Time Trial Championships in Plouay. In the absence of defending champion Remco Evenepoel (out with a pelvic fracture after his heavy fall in the Tour of Lombardy) and Wout van Aert (not allowed to start his Jumbo-Visma team in the week before the Tour), the two-time European champion (2017 and 2018) is a big contender. “It may be easier to become European champion than Belgian champion, due to the absence of Wout. I’m ready. Wout the tricolor and I the star jersey: that would be great. ”
–Frederik Frison took a surprising bronze. — © BELGA
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Surprisingly, bronze was not for Thomas De Gendt (fourth), but it was for Frederik Frison, his teammate at Lotto-Soudal. Neo-pro Florian Vermeersch (also Lotto-Soudal) finished fifth.
Frison: “Worked hard during the lockdown”
Frederik Frison beamed with his bronze plaque. “This is unexpected. When De Gendt did better on the first intermediate point, I thought I would fall off the podium. But apparently I have arranged the time trial very well. During the corona break I worked hard on the time trial, worked on the details. Glad it is already paying off. ”
Isn’t it a shame that national coach Rik Verbrugghe chose Jasper De Plus (who was disappointing today) for the European Championship time trial next Monday? “Yes, but the circumstances are difficult. I am the first reserve for the Tour (which is why Lotto-Soudal does not want to let him ride, ed.), But who knows I might get another chance later. The World Cup? Why not. But let’s not forget that there were two great riders out today. Feet on the ground. ”
De Gendt: “Couldn’t keep up the pace”
Thomas De Gendt was disappointed that he fell just off the podium: “It was fighting against the wind. In the first lap it went well, but after that I could not keep the pace and I stopped. I regret falling off the podium, but I didn’t leave either. Everyone has finally found their place. ”
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