This Sunday, three riders of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert lined up at the World Championships road race, 268 kilometer between Belgian historical cities Antwerp and Leuven. Odd Christian Eiking (Norway), Danny Van Poppel (Netherlands) and Georg Zimmermann (Germany) defended the colors of their nation on the parcours with 42 climbs, spread over de circuits of Overijse and Leuven.
Georg Zimmermann, selected for the second year in a row, stayed loyal to himself during this pretty unpredictable race. The counter-attackers joined the early breakaway 185 kilometer before the end already, adding some nervosity to thee peloton. The best young rider of the Tour of Germany participated to these first moves and even attacked when everyone was back together at the entry of the circuit in Leuven, 120 kilometer before the finish.
But nobody managed to escape until the final 95 kilometer. Eleven men, joined by the favorites on the cobbles of the Bekestraat, were the authors of the decisive move. At the end of a very exciting final race hour, Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe extended his world title. Zimmermann continued to battle until the finish, concluding his second elite World Championships at the age of 23.
This was by far the most special day of my life on the bike! I loved to show the best of myself in this extraordinary atmosphere. My role today was to be attentive in the first 180 kilometer, react to breakaway attempts and make the race hard in support of our leader Nils Politt. I think I succeeded my mission, so I’m satisfied about my performance in my second Elite World Championships. These 268 kilometer is the longest distance I’ve ever done in my young career. The final 55 kilometer seemed never-ending. But the enthusiasm of the public pushed me to persevere until the end!
