The back of the bunch, I have the segment. Not in Shanghai, in Lasne, on Sundays, leaving the square at twenty past nine. It is the place where you can see everybody and nobody looks at you.
Lotte Kopecky was there on 16 October, at the back, in the points race of the omnium at the Worlds. Sporza reports that she took no points and did not attack. Before that, 2nd in the tempo race, 2nd in the elimination race, 5th overall and 12 points off bronze. She finishes 7th, 86 points. Anna Morris wins with 125, ahead of Tsuyaka Uchino and Amalie Dideriksen. The day before, Kopecky had been crowned world champion in the elimination race. Next day, the Madison with Shari Bossuyt.
I am not going to tell you why she was at the back. I have no idea. When I am at the back, it is the backpack, a headwind both ways and the guy zigzagging in front. Take off the backpack, take off the guy: I am still at the back, but with one excuse fewer.
There is also Jules Hesters, 11th in the men’s points race, his first points coming after halfway, in a sprint. He told HLN: “I would have liked to ride a top six today, but it is my first points race at international level. I did not expect this scenario.” My first ride with the club, I did not expect the scenario either. I had been told nine o’clock. They left at nine o’clock.
Mark Stewart won, ahead of Benjamin Thomas. On a track there is no red light in Oudenaarde, I checked the plan.
The back, Xavier, is an office. You were there as a stagiaire.
I’m not saying I’m riding the omnium. I’m saying that on the back of the bunch, we can talk about it. At the café we argued till noon.
It’s true, we checked: Sporza.
