Alaphilip defends World Cup

Defending champion Julian Alaphilippe has bursted the dreams of a whole cycling nation and successfully defended his title in a breathtaking World Cup street race.

Julian Alaphilippe propelled proudly with his fist on the rainbow jersey and sang on the podium full of fervor the Marseillaise - in the audience rejoined the Frenchman his wife Marion Rousse. The 29-year-old won at the home game of Topfavorit Wout Van Aert in the Belgian region Flanders after 268.3 bang-hard kilometers on the classic course of Antwerpen to Lions and succeeded his title successful. Van Aert, hope of esteemed over a million fanatical Belgian cycling fans on the edge of the track, eleventh.

I think the Belgian fans had hoped for Van Aert, and many of them have found less nice words for me when I approached the finish line, Alaphilippe said and stressed with a grin on the face: That makes it double beautiful to win here.

Silver in a high-class and many races accompanied by many plumes went to the Dutch Dylan van Baarle, Bronze took himself to Michael Valgren from Denmark. Medal hopping Nils Politt, who retailed after three kilometers a plates of the rear tire, was 16.

All-clear after torque for Degenkolb

I do not know what was going on to the pavement rates today, definitely it was not my friends. It s a pity, Polit said, Generally, I can actually draw a positive conclusion.

The two-time Paris Nice Champion Maximilian Schachmann, who had been involved in a fall 165 km in front of a fall, lost the connection to the field shortly afterwards and gave the race. Like Polit s Edelhelfer John Degenkolb after a heavy fall 115 km from the destination.

The federal government German cyclist (BDR) gave all-clear. Degenkolb had no fractions and no major injuries warred.

So far, the last German title carrier in the road race remains Rudi Old, who triumphed in 1966. The last German single World Cup medal in the road race of the professionals won Sprinter Andre Gripple, who took a bronze ten years ago in Copenhagen Bronze.

The German starters had won gold in the Mixed Season at the last race of Tony Martin last Wednesday. Bronze secured in the World Cup history Antonia Niedermaier (Bad Aibling) in the time trial of the junior and Linda Riedmann (Carbach) in the street race in the same age group.

In vain Effort of Local Matador Wout Van Aert

The race on Sunday initially took the expected course. An early seven-member group tried to follow another with 15 drivers, including the Belgian Supertalent Remco Evenepeel, which highlights immensely for Van Aert, and Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic from Slovenia.

In Peloton, the remaining six Belgians took over the temporary role and worked for Van Aert. 132 km before the final, the escape of both groups was over. The crucial race phase ranged Polit with an attack shortly after the 100 km mark, which first found ten colleagers. This escape group was placed - Polit s short reserves were used afterwards.

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Fired by wout, wout, wout speechchrörnored van aert, grandios supported by Evenepoel and Jasper Stuyven, which became fourth, first all attacks of competition. Then Alaphilippe, who had triumphed past year before Van Aert in Imola, on the last round in Lions but freezing cold.