Gallery
Closing the Deal RVV22-14
This painting actually has a lot going on. Obviously, it is Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) raising her arms in victory just edging out the defending champion Annemiek Van Vleutin (Movistar). But it was down to the hard pace set by her teammate Chantal Van Der Broek-Blaak that set the Belgium champion up for a perfect (and fresh leg) sprint. As the race coverage swung over to the Belgium fans watching the finish, they were all spraying each other with some very tasty Belgium beers as their champion became the new champion of Ronde Van Vlaanderen. They had been deprived of seeing the male Belgium champion, Wout Van Aert, race today due to his having Covid. Van Vleutin seem to accept that she had very little chance of getting the win going up against two very strong teammates, but was still quite happy to take second, just the same.