This past Sunday in Belgium saw the fourth edition of the Skoda Challenge Geraardsbergen, which had been absent from the calendar for the past two seasons due to the global pandemic.
One of the key features of the race is the cobbles and climb of the Muur van Geraardsbergen, one of the iconic points of Ronde van Vlaanderen – the Tour of Flanders – one of the five Monuments of professional one-day cycling.
Challenge Family are clearly cycling fans too, as one of their new races announced recently, Challenge San Remo on September 25, will include the descent from another Monument, Milan-San Remo.
In addition to that report from Sunday, we can now bring you an ‘in pictures’ reflection of the race, thanks once again to regular TRI247 contributor, José Luis Hourcade (www.joseluishourcade.com), who was on-site to record the action.
Challenge Geraardsbergen Gallery 2022
Winner in 2018 and 2019, Belgium’s Pieter Heemeryck was aiming for three in a row
Plenty of Age-Group racing
Pro Women getting ready to go
Pro Men get the day started
The Pro Women hit the water
No reason to get lost on this course
Leading men heading for T1
Pieter Heemeryck early in the bike
Milan Brons chased down the leaders on the bike
Eventual winner Antony Costes, with Andrew Horsfall-Turner chasing
Diede Diederiks took control on the bike
A Sub8 pacer the previous week – it was a DNF for Els Visser in Belgium
The cobbles of the Muur van Geraardsbergen
The Muur is a natural spectator vantage point
Costes looking very aero
Alexandra Tondeur (BEL) en-route to second place
Antony Costes took control on the run
Fifth place for Great Britain’s Andrew Horsfall-Turner – back after Covid
Diederiks leading the way for the Pro Women
2nd, 1st, 1st, and now 2nd in four Challenge Geraardsbergen races for Pieter Heemeryck
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in the sport for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages.
While his passion is triathlon, you'll also find him watching Boxing, Darts or at the theatre enjoying a good musical...
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