A 110. A 60. Y a 13. ❤️🔥 Van der Poel da el estacazo definitivo con su tercer ataque y se marcha sin cadena a por el arcoíris. #Leuven2024 | #LaCasadelCiclismo
"This feels incredibly good, you can't imagine." 2nd place World Gravel Championship is personal victory for Vermeersch
CyclingSunday, 06 October 2024 at 18:09
Florian Vermeersch stepped onto the podium of the World Gravel Championships in his own country on Sunday for the second year in a row. This was a nice boost for the Belgian, who broke his femur at the beginning of the season and thus spent much of the year recovering.
Vermeersch was present in the decisive group of seven, accelerating 35 kilometers from the finish. Mathieu van der Poel jumped on his wheel like a cat, rode with him, and finally decided 15 kilometers from the finish that a solo victory suited him best. Vermeersch - considering the power balance - was also at peace with that.
"It was a challenging race. From the beginning of the race, the pace was already very high, so when we reached the local lap, there were only about ten riders left," the Lotto-Dstny rider told his story. "I knew I had to be one of the first to attack and ideally get Mathieu or someone else with me."
"That happened, and in the end, it simply came down to who was the strongest. I think everyone saw very well who that was," Vermeersch referred to Van der Poel with a smile. "I knew I would let go when he attacked, but I made the most of it. I already felt it when he got in front: that just went a bit harder, so you feel the difference."
Read more below the video!
Vermeersch: "This feels so good"
"You always have hope, of course, but I knew pretty quickly that he was better," Vermeersch continued. "So it was going to be for second place. After doing a long turn behind Van der Poel and Connor Swift earlier, I also struggled. So I think this is the most I can do; I will be honest: this feels like a personal victory."
By this, he is referring to his severe injury earlier this year. 'I'm going to ride four more races in Italy because the season hasn't been that long for me since my femur fracture. "I'm still trying to grab all I can, but this second place is hugely satisfying. You can't imagine that," Vermeersch concluded.
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024