Overijse (Belgium) (AFP)
The Belgian Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck) won the Grape Race alone on Thursday in Overijse in the suburbs of Brussels, whose 192 km route offered five climbs which will also be on the program for the Worlds at the end of September.
The 21-year-old rider won on his own after going out in the Smeysberg, 60 km from the finish, ahead of his Danish team-mate Mikkel Honoré and Belgian Aimé De Gendt.
His raid was briefly interrupted about thirty kilometers from the finish when the race was neutralized due to a fire which broke out not far from the course.
For his return to competition after a month's hiatus, Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe, reigning world champion and Evenepoel's teammate, appeared well in shape, often at the forefront, but did not weigh on the race.
The Belgian Remco Evenepoel, winner of the Grape Race, surrounded on the podium by the Danish Mikkel Frolich Honore (l, 2nd) and his compatriot Aime De Gendt, on August 26, 2021 in Overijse in the suburb of Brussels LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ BELGA / AFP
Evenepoel has already won the 20th success of his career, the sixth of the season after a stage and the general classification of the Tour of Belgium as well as two stages and the general classification of the Tour of Denmark.
He succeeds his French teammate Florian Sénéchal, who was absent this year, on the winners of the event.
© 2021 AFP