Tim Wellens secures elite men's Belgian time trial title
Alec Segaert forced to settle for second place three years in a row, Rune Herregodts finishes third in Binche
Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) secured his first title in the elite men's time trial at the Belgian Road Championships in Binche on Thursday. Wellens covered the 38.5km course with a winning time of 46:05 to claim the national champion's jersey.
Wellens finished nine seconds ahead of Alec Segaert (Lotto Dstny), who was forced to settle for second place for a third year in a row at the national championships.
Rune Herregodts (Intermarché-Wanty) took the final spot on the podium finishing the time trial at 29 seconds slower than the winning time.
“I rode faster than my pacing plan," Wellens said in an interview with Wielerflits after the time trial.
“Ten years ago, I was second, but after that, I didn't participate for a few years. I was motivated for this championship, I had also trained quite a bit on the time trial bike. But yesterday I was on an altitude training camp. I came here straight after my flight to explore the course.
"Today, I did the route a few more times. I came with ambition, but winning is always difficult. So I'm super happy with the win.”
The elite men completed two laps of the same 19.3-kilometre lap that the elite women raced earlier in the day, and the title was won by Lotte Kopecky.
Absent from the elite men's event was 2022 champion and reigning World Champion Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) and three-time winner in 2019, 2020 and 2023, Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike).
Wellens was part of a second wave of riders on the course and recorded the fastest first intermediate time check. Segaert, Herregodts and Ward Vanhoof (Team Flanders-Baloise) also had fast times as they raced through the first of the two time checks en route.
Wellens carried his speed through the next time check and maintained the fastest time of the day through to the finish.
Segaert and Herregodts were close to Wellens through the second time check, but ultimately, they gradually lost time and finished nine seconds and 29 seconds slower by the finish line.
Results
Results powered by FirstCycling
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59
Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.
Most Popular
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Victims of their own success? Belgian Cycling scraps bonuses for Worlds medals after 11 in five years
Five world titles between Evenepoel and Kopecky makes bonuses 'not sustainable' -
Chiara Consonni completes Canyon-SRAM 2025 roster
Italian joins Tour de France Femmes champions from UAE Team ADQ -
Indoor cycling vs Winter cycling: Which costs more?
With the huge array of choices of kit and equipment for both indoor and outdoor riding, which is potentially the better value option? -
One of my favourite winter cycling jackets is being discontinued, but it’s a mad bargain while it’s still around
The Velocio Alpha Merino Air Jacket is not long for this world, but for now it’s 30% off