France's Alaphilippe retains men's UCI World Championship Title

Defending champion Julian Alaphilippe of France won the men's road race at the cycling world championships this Sunday on a brutal 268.3-km course from Antwerp to Leuven

Julian Alaphilippe scored a stunning second world title in a row with a powerful ride in Flanders today.

The Frenchman launched a series of scathing attacks with 60 km to go that blew up the group of pre-race favorites including Wout van Aert (Belgium), Sonny Colbrelli (Italy) and Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands) from his wheel as he rampaged to his title defense. 

Remco Evenepoel played a major part for his Belgian squad, marking every key move and covering the chase groups for teammate Wout van Aert before finally blowing up with 30km to go.

Behind Alaphilippe, Dutchman Dylan van Baarle took second place, and Denmark's Michael Valgren finished third ahead of Jasper Stuyven (Belgium).

Behind American Neilson Powless and Brit Thomas Pidcock put in stellar rides to finish 5th and 6th.

Mathieu van der Poel is now looking to use his form to win Paris Roubaix next weekend, which will see for the first time a women's race.

More to follow shortly.

2021 UCI Men's Elite World Championship Road Race Top 10

1 Julian Alaphilippe (France) 5:56:34
2 Dylan van Baarle (Netherlands) 0:00:32
3 Michael Valgren Hundahl (Denmark)
4 Jasper Stuyven (Belgium)
5 Neilson Powless (United States Of America)
6 Thomas Pidcock (Great Britain) 0:00:49
7 Zdenek Stybar (Czech Republic) 0:01:06
8 Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands) 0:01:18
9 Florian Senechal (France)
10 Sonny Colbrelli (Italy)