Eddy Merckx joins Remco Evenepoel's celebration party on RSC Anderlecht stadium

Remco Evenepoel's heroic deeds in Paris couldn't have gone unnoticed 300 kilometers further north in Belgium. After all, it's not so often Belgians get to celebrate both road race and time trial gold medals. And it's absolutely unprecedented to have been accomplished by a single rider at the same Olympic Games.

Naturally, Evenepoel was welcomed back in Brusseles almost like a Grand Tour champion, with media attention, just like huge praise coming from all directions. One such surprise have prepared the football club RSC Anderlecht (based in Brusseles) where, long before aero-bullet nickname was born, the Belgian superstar dreamed of becoming a professional. But instead of chasing aliens in mountains, he had planned to chase football between soccer goals.

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Eddy 'The Cannibal' Merckx himself arrived to the packed stadium with capacity well over twenty thousand spectators to congratulate his successor in achieving what even the 11-time Grand Tour champion couldn't achieve.

In a ceremony that took place last Sunday, Remco was handed a special jersey in club colours (purple) with the Olympic circles refering to his success and Evenepoel's name on it. Certainly a nice souvenir to put above the fireplace in Remco's house next to his Vuelta red jersey.

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