Development Duarte Marivoet crowned Belgian U23 champion after brilliant solo ride

The Belgian Championships were contested on a demanding course featuring eleven local laps of 15.6 kilometres, with the Koxberg and Smeysberg to be climbed each time. The rain made the race even tougher and turned it into a real battle of attrition.

Lotto-Groupe Wanty took the initiative early on. The team was well represented in a large breakaway, from which three riders, including Marivoet, eventually emerged. On the slopes of the Smeysberg in the penultimate lap, he launched his decisive attack. No one could respond, allowing the Belgian to hold on to his advantage all the way to the finish.

"I surprised myself a bit today. I've been through a difficult period. I started the season well, but then things became more difficult because of my broken collarbone and later my illness during the Giro. Last week, at the Giro della Valle d'Aosta, I felt my form was good, but the results just didn't come. That's why I came here determined to prove that I'm still capable."

Marivoet relied entirely on his instincts in the finale. "Today I raced purely on instinct. I wasn't overthinking things. I just kept riding. When the three of us were away, I didn't really feel like I was the strongest. I simply kept pushing and waited to see what would happen. I knew that if I got away and kept going, they would eventually start looking at each other behind me."

With his victory, Marivoet secured a Belgian title for Lotto-Groupe Wanty, while Niels Driesen and Victor Vaneeckhoutte also underlined the team's strong collective performance by finishing fifth and seventh respectively. "It's amazing to wear the Belgian tricolour for an entire year. I was already Belgian junior time trial champion twice, but I never thought I would win a Belgian road title. It's unbelievable. I'm really, really happy."

Photo: Belgian Cycling