Cycling: Remco Evenepoel won the World Championship road race in Wollongong. The 22-year-old Belgian triumphed confidently as a soloist with a lead of more than two minutes.
Evenepoel rushes up and away
The year 2022 is his year. Remco Evenepoel wins the rainbow jersey after Liège – Bastogne – Liège and the Vuelta a Espana. After 266,9 kilometers from Helensburgh to Wollongong there was no longer any doubt that the only 22-year-old is the strongest rider in the peloton. For a long time he was part of a top group. Then he attacked together with Alexey Lutsenko. He finally left the Kazakh in the climb of the penultimate lap. Behind them, groups of pursuers tried to find each other several times, but there was always a lack of harmony. The drivers who had already been left behind were able to catch up again and sprint for silver and bronze. Christophe Laporte from France and Michael Matthews from Australia had the fastest legs.
Fall of Zimmermann thwarts Germany's plans
The German national team was not able to achieve a top ranking. Nikias Arndt, Nico Denz, Miguel Heidemann, Jonas Koch, and Jannik Steimle and George Zimmerman presented themselves active throughout the road race, but ultimately remained unlucky. Their plans were finally thwarted when Captain Georg Zimmermann fell and had to give up the race. On the last laps, attempts were made in vain to bring the leading group back.
Van der Poel spent the night in prison
The World Championship road race in Wollongong lost a co-favourite after about an hour. When 35 kilometers were completed, increased Mathieu van der Poel into the car. The Dutchman cannot fly home yet. Because he will have to answer in court on Tuesday. According to police reports, the four-time cross world champion pushed two teenagers in the hotel that night. The police were then informed and Van der Poel had to spend the night in a cell. He was not released until four in the morning. The overtired Van der Poel himself testified that the two teenagers kept him from sleeping by repeatedly knocking on the bedroom door.
All aboard the Remco Evenepoel express!
Belgian superstar is making moves. #Wollongong2022 pic.twitter.com/Vxms4QR36W- UCI (@UCI_cycling) September 25, 2022
REMCO EVENEPOEL
WORLD CHAMPION #Wollongong2022 pic.twitter.com/0lkWOQSRAe- UCI (@UCI_cycling) September 25, 2022