Cyclocross world champion Wout van Aert provided a shock in the prologue of the Belgium Tour by beating favourite Tony Martin to the stage win by two hundredths of a second.
Van Aert, riding for Continental team Crelan-Vastgoedservice, completed the six kilometre course in 6-52, beating Martin (Etixx-Quick Step) and Reto Hollenstein (IAM Cycling) to the win.
>>> A cyclocross world champion trying to cross a river – what could go wrong? (video)
The 21-year-old was making his first appearance in a UCI road race and now finds himself in the leader's jersey heading into stage 1 from Buggenhout to Knokke-Heist on Thursday.
As well as the World Championships in Zolder, van Aert also won the Belgian national championships and the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in 2016.
>>> Cyclocross world champion sets his sights on Paris-Roubaix
Lars van der Haar, who finished second to van Aert in Zolder is also riding the Belgium Tour, representing Giant-Alpecin.
Trek-Segafredo's Boy van Poppel also lines up, having been eliminated from the Giro d'Italia on stage eight for finishing outside the time limit, along with Elia Viviani.
-
-
Geraint Thomas explains 'freak crash' at Tokyo Olympics men's road race
The Welshman says he must have done something bad in a previous life to warrant yet another untimely fall
By Jonny Long •
-
Tokyo Olympics men's road race LIVE: Musashinonomori Park to Fuji International Speedway
Live updates from the first cycling event of the Tokyo games
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Geraint Thomas explains 'freak crash' at Tokyo Olympics men's road race
The Welshman says he must have done something bad in a previous life to warrant yet another untimely fall
By Jonny Long •
-
Tokyo Olympics men's road race LIVE: Musashinonomori Park to Fuji International Speedway
Live updates from the first cycling event of the Tokyo games
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Richard Carapaz storms to gold medal in Tokyo 2020 Olympics road race
The Ecuadorian put in a phenomenal ride to hold off a chasing group behind
By Alex Ballinger •
-
‘It could be one of the toughest races of our careers’: Tao Geoghegan Hart and Simon Yates share thoughts on Olympic road race
This year’s race will take place in brutal heat and humidity in Japan
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Tokyo Olympics: Who are the bookies’s favourite to win the road races?
The men and women will fight for gold in Tokyo this weekend - these are the favourites
By Alex Ballinger •
-
'It’s been a nice run, but it’s time': Richie Porte says 2021 edition was his final Tour de France
The Australian leads his national team into the Olympic Games road race on Saturday
By Richard Windsor •
-
Fabio Jakobsen takes his first win after life-threatening crash
The Dutch sprinter is back on the top step after his crash with Dylan Groenewegen one year ago
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Tour of Britain 2021 route: Team time trial and Great Orme finish unveiled
This year's race will take the peloton from Cornwall, through Wales, before finishing in Scotland
By Richard Windsor •
