Did Marc Coucke or one of his acolytes carry eggs to Saint Clare on Saturday? Still, after a night streaked by lightning while the heavenly floodgates opened again, from ten o’clock, one after the other, cycling fans settled down on the Durbuy terraces. Among them, the six survivors of the Dutch group BCY, the first to arrive at the Place aux Foires. Already dressed, they enjoy chatting with the curious while sipping an espresso while the driver of a Bentley Continental Cabriolet, as if trapped, performs the maneuver of his life between the Nadar barriers.
Certainly, we are a thousand miles from the heatwave of 2023, but throughout the day, the rain will disappear from the radars. Too bad for these dozens of supporters as drunk as for a trip to the local Christmas market… All profit for the riders of this Tour of Belgium, well helped by Éole as they enjoy climb after climb for four hours.
“This third edition is by far the one with the best popular success”, will later slip Christophe Impens, the boss of Golazo and therefore of the organization. The former Belgian 1,500m champion is not distorting the truth. Both in front of the anticline for the presentation of the teams and on the rue du Gibet for the finish, the crowd is there, delighted to touch some of the stars of world cycling.
See you in 2025, with Arnaud De Lie…
In terms of applause, Merlier, Kooij and Philipsen make up the winning trifecta, but it is clear that at the team level, it is the elements of Team Flanders who generate the most encouragement. What could be more normal than having to really listen to hear French spoken in the ranks!
“Difficult to change mentalities”will say Bart Maerten, member of the board of directors of the Petite Merveille, at the initiative with his friend Marc Coucke of this beautiful gift to the City and to cycling fans in 2022.
“Last year, the Arnaud De Lie fan club clearly brought a breath of fresh air”he replied.
The spectacle put on by the runners with an outcome that would not have displeased Alfred Hitchcock can only stimulate the management. “This route is simply exceptional. The Tour de Belgique cannot do without Luxembourg and on the other hand, the Luxembourg public deserves to benefit from an event of this dimension”, argues Christophe Impens. Rendez-vous is therefore confirmed for a fourth edition in June 2025.
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