Wout van Aert wins Belgian road race title, Evenepoel third, on weekend of National Championships
All the action from this weekend's national championships
Wout van Aert confirmed his form after having his appendix removed last month by winning the Belgian national road race championships ahead of Trek-Segafredo's Edward Theuns, with Remco Evenepoel taking third place.
Van Aert and Evenepoel had attacked on a descent in the closing kilometres, finishing only five seconds ahead of the chasing group as their collaboration faltered, the Jumbo-Visma man opening up his sprint early to distance Evenepoel and pip Theuns on the line to take his first-ever Belgian elite men's road race champion's jersey.
Elsewhere, on a weekend when many national titles were settled, Sonny Colbrelli became Italian road race champion for the first time in his career, while Rémi Cavagna won the French title with a solo attack.
Omar Fraile will wear the Spanish champion's jersey this coming year, as Timo Roosen picked up the Dutch title, Mathieu van der Poel not finishing the race after attacking off the front on his own, and Max Schachmann successfully defended his German title.
Peter Sagan won the Slovakian road race for the first time since 2018, ensuring he'll be wearing a distinctive jersey at the upcoming Tour de France, while Matej Mohorič won in Slovenia, Tadej Pogačar fifth.
Elisa Longo Borghini picked up both the road race and time trial titles for the second consecutive year, as Amy Pieters won the Dutch road race, Lotte Kopecky the Belgian, Mavi García the Spanish and Évita Muzic the French.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
In the time trial, Matteo Sobrero won the Italian title, Filippo Ganna finishing outside the medals in fourth, as a resurgent Tom Dumoulin captured the Dutch jersey.
Yves Lampaert beat Remco Evenepoel and Victor Campenaerts to the Belgian title as Tony Martin won the German time trial for a record tenth time.
Kopecky and Garcia also doubled up on national titles, winning their time trial races, while Anna van der Breggen took the Dutch race against the clock, beating Ellen Van Dijk and Lucinda Brand.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
Lip service isn't good enough: here's what needs to change for cycling events to actually be inclusive
These are the key actions that make an event actually inclusive and do more than just lip service.
By Marley Blonsky Published
-
Ask a coach: ‘Should I cycle commute every day?’
The length of your commute is a major factor; but there are ways to adapt your routine to maximise on the gains of riding into work
By Alex Welburn Published
-
Wout van Aert back on drop bars as he says he’s 'almost professional again' in Strava post
Visma-Lease a Bike rider broke his collarbone, sternum and several ribs in a high speed crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Wout van Aert to miss Giro d'Italia due to injuries suffered at Dwars door Vlaanderen
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider was set to ride the Italian Grand Tour for the first time
By Adam Becket Published
-
Wout van Aert showers for first time in 12 days, posts on Strava
Visma-Lease a Bike rider 'starting to feel a little bit like myself again' after Dwars door Vlaanderen crash
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Wout van Aert’s Classics dreams go up in smoke, but all is not lost for Visma-Lease a Bike
Attention turns to another promising squad member after their talisman is ruled out of Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and Amstel-Gold Race with 'several fractures'
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Wout van Aert out of Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix after breaking multiple bones in Dwars door Vlaanderen crash
Belgian underwent surgery to repair broken sternum, collarbone and several ribs on Thursday after high speed crash on Wednesday
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
Wout van Aert out of Dwars door Vlaanderen after being caught up in huge crash
Jasper Stuyven, Mads Pedersen, Biniam Girmay and other star riders involved in big pile up
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
Wout van Aert 'in a good place' ahead of Tour of Flanders despite Visma-Lease a Bike illness and injury crisis
Loss of Christophe Laporte and Dylan van Baarle 'a big blow' says DS Grischa Niermann as team builds for Monument double header
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Wout van Aert gears towards career-defining fortnight in new, enlightened mindset
Belgian admits pressure has weighed heavily on his shoulders in the past as the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix come around once more
By Tom Thewlis Published