Tom Crabbe continues to win and perhaps, at this point, no one should be surprised by anything else. The young Belgian from Team Flanders Baloise is indeed in stunning ascent and sprinting ahead of everyone, with four seasonal victories already in his pocket and increasingly granite-solid confidence, is something that now comes to him incredibly easily even though, as we know, imposing oneself in today's cycling is never an easy feat.

Today then, at the finish line in Marmaris, we discovered that the native of Jette can count on Tour of Turkey with special support and extra motivational boost since, following him in this first special Asian adventure of his career, are also present dad Hans and mom Sonia who, taking advantage of their son's commitment, decided to take a few days of vacation and return to a place they had already had the opportunity to explore in the past.

"It's not our first time in Turkey" Crabbe's parents told us near the finish of the second stage. "We had already been here in 1992. The country has certainly changed a lot, but it remains a truly beautiful place, with wonderful things to see (yesterday, for example, we visited Ephesus) and excellent food".

And it was precisely in a local restaurant with a view of the splendid sea of the Turkish seaside resort that the couple passed the time waiting for their son's arrival who, after crossing the finish line in first position, did not fail to embrace them warmly and emotionally, a scene that 24 hours earlier could not have happened because the two were not present at the Selçuk finish line.

"Yesterday we weren't able to see the finish because, after being at the start, we didn't have time by car to reach the finish line" admitted the couple who today, instead, did not let slip the latest great scalp of their son's season.

"It's an incredible feeling to see him win like this. He's still very young and in the last four years he has grown a lot but in this last period what he's doing is truly fantastic" commented Hans who, in his heart, had begun to account for such an exploit by Tom in this 2026.

"We somewhat expected that he could achieve results like this because he had told us he would have several opportunities. He went through a difficult moment during the Flemish races because he fell and suffered bruises that after three days swelled up. His body wasn't reacting as it should have but now he's okay and he's in excellent form. The best of his life? We'll see that in twenty years, but up to this point perhaps it is" exclaimed smiling Sonia who, together with her husband, then explained to us what kind of guy Tom is off the saddle.

"He's a very modest guy, very positive. He's truly passionate about this sport and everything it entails, both from a physical and mental point of view. He has a great sense of humor, and the more nervous he is, the more this aspect of his emerges. For the rest, he's just trying to stay healthy and that's the most important thing".

It's inevitable for him, considering the repeated successes he's strung together this season, that more and more teams are putting him on their radar ("We know that many teams are interested and that he's now discussing with his manager about how to move forward" Hans's words on the subject) for next season when he will certainly find himself wearing another jersey due to the closure of Team Flanders Baloise, a team that, both for his parents and for Tom himself, has undoubtedly contributed to the explosion of the new name in Belgian sprinting.

"This team is truly a big family, and it's wonderful to be part of it. As a parent, I find it to be something truly beautiful because ultimately cycling is not an individual sport but a team sport. For this reason, as you saw today, we always congratulate every rider and staff member that makes up the team, it's very important to do so" stated Hans.

"I think it's really important to have this team supporting me. I'm one of those guys who was ignored by the big development teams, but who just needed a few more years and months to grow and reach the point where I am now: none of this would have been possible without the team I'm in now. Everyone in it, from staff to riders, has given me so much confidence and they're super motivated to work for me because they know that if I win, I don't do it for myself but for all of them" Tom then echoed in the press conference, obviously ready to dispense beautiful words for his parents as well.

"They've always supported me since I was a boy. It's fantastic that they managed to come here and they're so happy for me because I'm achieving what I've always dreamed of. It's really nice to do all this in a different part of the world compared to Belgium, it's an incredible feeling" declared Crabbe who, certainly, will be able to count on the closeness of his own family in the coming weeks when, once back from the Tour of Turkey, he'll pin on the number again in races at home.

"After this race I'll go home and rest a bit, then I think I'll start again at the GP Criquielion and then compete in some races in Belgium with the goal of preparing for the National Championships that will be held in Antwerp on a flat course ideal for me" concluded the class of 2005 who, it cannot be ruled out, may soon round out his personal tally. But if he does, from now on, (perhaps) there will be no more reason to be surprised.