In pictures: Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 gallery

Chief Correspondent

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.

Pro cycling connections

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.

There were Belgian athletes on the home podium again this year, but it was a case of silver linings, with the race victories going to Antony Costes (FRA) and Diede Diederiks (NED).

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 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Winner in 2018 and 2019, Belgium’s Pieter Heemeryck was aiming for three in a row
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Plenty of Age-Group racing
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Pro Women getting ready to go
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Pro Men get the day started
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
The Pro Women hit the water
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
No reason to get lost on this course
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Leading men heading for T1
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Pieter Heemeryck early in the bike
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Milan Brons chased down the leaders on the bike
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Eventual winner Antony Costes, with Andrew Horsfall-Turner chasing
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Diede Diederiks took control on the bike
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
A Sub8 pacer the previous week – it was a DNF for Els Visser in Belgium
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
The cobbles of the Muur van Geraardsbergen
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
The Muur is a natural spectator vantage point
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Costes looking very aero
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Alexandra Tondeur (BEL) en-route to second place
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Antony Costes took control on the run
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Fifth place for Great Britain’s Andrew Horsfall-Turner – back after Covid
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Diederiks leading the way for the Pro Women
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
2nd, 1st, 1st, and now 2nd in four Challenge Geraardsbergen races for Pieter Heemeryck
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Impressive finish line area
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Antony Costes takes the victory
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
A first win of 2022 for Diede Diederiks
Challenge Geraardsbergen 2022 - Photo Credit Jose Luis Hourcade
Challenge Geraardsbergen Pro podium 2022
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