A new hope: Belgium celebrates Evenepoel Vuelta win

Remco Evenepoel wins Belgium's first Grand Tour in 44 years, having led for 15 days, writes James Shrubsall

- James Shrubsall

On Sunday evening the King of the Belgians Facetimed Remco Evenepoel to congratulate him on his win in the Vuelta a Espana. If Belgium's first Grand Tour winner in 44 years was already having difficulty processing his landmark victory, this may not have helped - but this may be a taste of the new normal for the 22-year-old Quick StepAlpha Vinyl rider.

Evenepoel is being hailed across the country for what is the first Belgian three-week victory since Johan de Muynck won the Giro d'Italia in 1978. Back in his home village of Schepdaal, not far from Brussels, the bakery is full of 'Evenepoel' eclairs with red icing, and he takes pride of place on the front pages of sports and mainstream media. While there has always been a certain amount of focus on him given how talented he clearly is, Evenepoel is likely to find himself in a new level of demand across Belgium and the world.