Remco Evenepoel was riding his first and only race as word champion in Heestert, Belgium. Huge crowds turned out to greet him though he had to be content with runner-up on the day (Photos by Philippe Seys)
Video crowd in Heestert for world champ Remco Evenepoel
Riding his first and last race in his native Belgium as world junior champion Remco Evenepoel was greeted by huge crowds yesterday.
The 18-year-old put in an epic ride in Innsbruck last weekend, winning the road title after having claimed the junior world TT title days earlier.
In the junior road race in Innsbruck he was two minutes off the front of the crash-strewn event at one point.
But he fought his way back to the head of the race before going on to win solo by 1:25.
However, while he gave his rainbow bands an airing in Belgium yesterday greeted by huge crowds – as the video below shows – he had to be content with 2nd place.
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Wereldkampioen Remco Evenepoel aan de start in #Heestert Ongezien: Een heuse volkstoeloop voor een junioerenkoers. Verslag morgen in Sport West @FocusWTV pic.twitter.com/hmfZ34hXSm
— Nicolas Staelens (@StaelensNic) October 6, 2018
In the 80km flat race he got clear in a three-man move. And in the sprint at the finish line it was East Flemish champion Fabio Van Den Bossche who took the win.
The victor is the European and Belgian champion in both the omnium and Madison. But even though he has pedigree and he won yesterday, the crowds were there to see the new world champion.
"If you are world champion, you should show that jersey, which is what you do for it", Remco Evenepoel told Sporza.
"I enjoyed it,” he said of yesterday’s race. “I usually do not win in the sprint, which was proven again today."
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The crowds before the start and packing the finishing straight, where Remco Evenepoel was beaten to the win in Heestert.
Before the race in Heestert, Evenepoel was interviewed at length on the podium. The peloton looked on as it lined up on the start line.
Van Den Bossche said had the race been 40km longer or featured a climb, Evenepoel would have won.
However, he also reminded those present that he had won two European track titles.
"I still rank that higher than this victory,” he said amid the hysteria around Evenepoel in Heestert.
Straight into the big league
Yesterday’s race was the new champion’s last road race of the season. Therefore, it was the only time he will wear the road race rainbow bands in competition.
Next weekend he will compete in the Chrono des Nations TT in France and wear his world champion’s TT bands.
After that, his season is over. He said he would then get some rest before beginning preparations for next year.
He has already signed a two-year contract with QuickStep and so makes the unusual move from the junior ranks straight to the WorldTour.
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