I observe. Stage six, the last one, 165.8 kilometres from Yizhou, finish at the top of Nongla, 3.1 kilometres at 7.2%. First, Jarno Widar. Second, Tom Pidcock, at six seconds. Third, Louis Barré, at ten seconds. The classification is established. There is nothing else to establish.
Firstly. Final general classification: Widar ahead of Pidcock by nine seconds, ahead of Barré by sixteen. Maxim Van Gils, tenth at thirty-three seconds. The gaps are read in order. I have read them again in order.
Secondly. The register of winners. Paul Double, British, leaves the box. Widar enters it. I also keep, in my folder, a column headed “Belgians, Tour de Guangxi”. Tim Wellens, 2017. Lennert Van Eetvelt, 2024. I add a third line. I write it in biro, neatly, as at the town hall when someone comes for an identity card and everything is in order.
Thirdly. On 6 October, Trois vallées varésines, first victory, already ahead of Tom Pidcock. I note the recurrence: Widar in front, Pidcock behind. I do not comment on the recurrence. The rulebook does not know recurrence. It knows the line.
These are his first two WorldTour victories, and they close his first season as a professional. I note that a season is closed like a financial year. Opening, movements, closing. This one is closed.
What I do not note: age set against a record, the words television may have used, the temptation, very Belgian, to open another register than mine. That register has no article.
Verdict: compliant.
It’s true, we checked: RTBF Sport.
