Tour de France 2021

Here come the Belgians!

Who wants to see an all-Belgian break in this Tour de France? Gilbert, Naesen, and the plot to unify a nation

Photos: Getty Images Words: Ian Cleverly

Stage 5 of this year's Paris-Nice and it was bubbling along nicely, if unspectacularly. Then something quite dramatic, and unique, happened.

Eleven Belgians – yes 11 – took it upon themselves to light up proceedings with an attack of stupendous audacity. And hilarity. The TV commentators were in fits of giggles, as were many of us.

Oliver Naesen was the man behind the slickly-managed operation, gathering up his countrymen from a variety of teams to dissuade any sprinters’ outfits from spoiling the party, then smashing away in the crosswinds for a brief interlude before being reeled back in.

Tour de France 2021 Guide

Oliver Naesen

Oliver Naesen: he's a very naughty boy...

Accompanying the mischievious Naesen were the likes of Yves Lampaert, Tim Declercq, Jasper Stuyven and Victor Campenaerts, plus, naturally, Thomas de Gendt. Because, no Thomas de Gendt, no party.

Another rider of note in this fabulous move was Philippe Gilbert. A recent conversation I had with TV commentator and Rouleur columnist Ned Boulting threw up an interesting theory from the former world champion.

He had related to Ned how Remco Evenepoel was a unifying figure for the famously divided nation. The young superstar hails from Aalst, east Flanders, not so far from Wallonia, but is fluent in both languages. Eddy Merckx was a similarly loved figure by both Flandrians and Walloons – something of a rarity in the complex political cauldron of Belgium.

Related – Mark Cavendish's transcendent win

I was reminded of my first assignment as a cycling journalist, visiting a cyclo-cross team in Flanders. Around the lunch table, the riders referred to their Walloon team-mate as “the foreigner” – not their Czech rider Zdeněk Štybar, but their fellow countryman. Yes, it was done with a smile and a joke. But there was some underlying truth in their jesting.

Gilbert, the 38-year-old from Verviers in Wallonia, has had his moments in the political headlines over his long and distinguished career, notably causing an unintentional furore back in 2013 when he stated in an interview that flying the Lion of Flanders flag at the World Championships was somehow anti-Belgian. As a symbol of the Flemish separatist movement, the flag has meaning beyond a simple visually-arresting roadside banner.

The hornet's nest was stirred, Gilbert issued a clarification and promised to avoid making any potentially inflammatory comments of a political nature in future. This is one extremely complex country, seemingly split right down the middle – geographically and politically.

Which brings us neatly back to unification. Gilbert assured Ned the big Belgian break was very much on the cards for this Tour de France – Flandrians and Walloons united in one glorious throw of the dice to boldly go where no nation has ever gone before, leaving their wildcard French neighbours scratching their heads in puzzlement.

Philippe Gilbert

Gilbert: "Ask Naesen!"

I asked Gilbert last week which stage and at exactly which kilometre this audacious move might happen. He smiled wryly before answering: “Naesen is the organiser. You have his number, don’t you?”

Naesen was messaged. No reply, unsurprisingly... So which stage is for you to conject upon, but what a delicious prospect.

One nation under a groove, and on the attack. Here come the Belgians, again.

Photos: Getty Images Words: Ian Cleverly

READ MORE

La Vuelta Femenina contenders 2025

La Vuelta a España Femenina preview: Who can challenge Demi Vollering for the red jersey?

All the essential information about the first Grand Tour of the year

Read more
‘There’s a lack of support for retired riders’ - Grace Brown on navigating life after racing

‘There’s a lack of support for retired riders’ - Grace Brown on navigating life after racing

While the former Olympic and World champion is relishing new ventures in retirement, she is keen to ensure more support is in place for those...

Read more
Ratings of the Women's WorldTour teams at the Classics

Sprint dominance, cobbled mayhem and Ardennes surprises - rating the women's teams at the Spring Classics

From SD Worx-Protime's continued success to Canyon-SRAM's disappointment, Rouleur takes a look at how each squad performed at the Spring Classics

Read more
Alpecin and UAE delight but Visma and Red bull struggle - rating the teams' performances at the Spring Classics

Alpecin and UAE delight but Visma and Red bull struggle - rating the teams' performances at the Spring Classics

With the curtains closing on the Spring Classics, Rouleur looks back on the winners and losers of this year's campaign 

Read more
Tadej Pogačar in the pink jersey at the 2024 Giro d'Italia

How to watch and live stream the Giro d'Italia 2025

A guide to where you can catch all the Giro d'Italia action from home or on the go

Read more

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE