“Compared to Tokyo…

By Pierre-Andréa Fraile | Sports journalist

A simple bronze medalist at the Paris Games, Wout van Aert would certainly have liked to show off more to his advantage. Not as impressive as expected on the road, how did he feel in the Olympic Village? The Belgian has lifted the veil.

Just a few days after the end of the Tour de France, most of the best riders in the peloton met again in France. Despite notable absences such as those of Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and Richard Carapaz, the road Cycling field looked great at the Paris Olympic Games. In the end, two countries mainly stood out.

Obviously expected at home, the French team first responded. Valentin Madouas and Christophe Laporte won the silver and bronze medals in the road race. However, it is Belgium which stood out above all thanks to Remco Evenepoel. Winner of the event, the latter also won the time trial ahead of Filippo Ganna and his compatriot Wout van Aert, 3rd.

Wout van Aert caught off guard at the Paris Olympic Village

With three medals obtained over the fortnight, including two gold, Belgian road cycling and its stars can be satisfied with their 2024 Olympics. More in any case than those of Tokyo, where only van Aert was able to bring back a charm to his country. In any case, he was already looking forward to his stay in Paris… as soon as he arrived at the Olympic village. He explained in fact in comments reported by The evening :

Wout Van Aert: Compared to Tokyo, where we were 200 kilometers from the village, I'm glad we could once experience it. Everything is well organized and it's great to meet lots of people. I'm also surprised at how many people recognize Remco and me. It's nice.

An astonishment that can easily be understood.

After all, cycling remains an underdeveloped sport in some parts of the world, regardless of the fact that riders wear glasses and helmets on the roads. Enough to make them difficult to recognize with their faces uncovered. And yet, van Aert claims to have been a victim of his success among other athletes in the village. Evenepoel, for his part, experienced the first hours there that were both calm and disturbing:

Remco Evenepoel: It's special to be here. The first day, we are a little overwhelmed. We forget that we are still there for a competition because we meet everyone and we are interested in other sports. I, for example, went to watch hockey. Other than that, I rested and stayed in bed.

However, this did not prevent him from subsequently shining on the bike.

Cycling superstar Wout van Aert did not expect to cause a sensation in the Olympic village during the Paris Games. It must be believed that his popularity there gave him wings, especially during the time trial.