He had already dropped his opponents ten kilometers earlier, then about 3.5 kilometers from the finish line, a new rival... On worldwide television everyone saw that little cyclist who in the final of the Ronde tried to go fast like world champion Tadej Pogacar: one on the road to victory, the other on the bike path that made him known to the world.

A typical story of that Belgium where cycling is a religion, a story that intrigued the journalists of Het Nieuwsblad who went looking for that boy. And so here he is, Charles-Victor, with his 9 years full of enthusiasm and passion for two wheels and especially for Tadej Pogacar.

"I'm a fan of Tadej because he's always sweet with children. He always greets them. I've seen him a couple of times during races, but my big dream is to manage to meet him".

After a race on Sunday morning where he finished fourth, Charles-Victor lives a few kilometers from Oudenaarde and asked his parents to go and watch the Flanders. He positioned himself on the bike path, waited to see the silhouette of the world champion on the horizon and then started pedaling as hard as he could. "When Tadej passed by I asked him for a water bottle. Either he didn't hear me or he still needed it for the finale, but shortly after he turned and looked at me. I wanted to see how fast those guys really pedal. And know for how long I could follow them".

Charles-Victor's ideas are as confused as it's beautiful that he is nine years old: he plays football, rides a bike (for those who know him, he has already climbed the Wolvenberg, Kattenberg and Molenberg without putting a foot down, ed) but "if I ever had to choose, I would become a racing driver" he explains. Then however he adds "One day I want to participate in the Tour of Flanders".

The ideas are clear, however, about the photo you can see: "I'll have it printed and put it in a frame above my bed. It was really special when Tadej looked me straight in the eyes".