Yves Lampaert claimed his second Belgian time trial title and kept Remco Evenepoel waiting for his first on the opening day of national championships across Europe.
On a 37.6km circuit around the Roeselare Canal, Lampaert beat his Deceuninck - Quick Step teammate by 20 seconds with a time of 44-48.00.
It was the first time since his 2017 triumph that Lampaert has won the title, and the second time that Evenepoel has fallen short but finished on the podium.
Victor Campenaerts, who enjoyed a return to form and won a stage at the Giro d'Italia, finished third.
The result was the reverse of the time trial in the Belgium Tour last week when Evenepoel beat Lampaerts by two seconds across 11.2km en route to winning the stage race.
Second-place for Evenepoel does show his form ahead of his main summer target: the Tokyo Olympics.
The 21-year-old has signalled his intent to aim for gold in both the road race and time trial events.
He made a comeback from injury at the Giro d'Italia and despite a positive opening week he eventually faded and abandoned with a few stages to go.
Evenepoel responded by winning the Belgium Tour last week, with Lampaerts in second.
Not one for celebrating too much, Lampaerts was videoed cycling home after winning gold with panniers strapped to his bike.
Riding what appeared to be a town bike with dropped handlebars nowhere in sight, Lampaerts cruised home leisurely.
