Eneco Tour stage winner Victor Vercouillie dedicates emotional victory to his recently deceased father

Victor Vercouillie won the penultimate stage of the Eneco Tour in spectacular fashion on Saturday. The Belgian gave his team, Flanders Baloise, a great victory in the team’s final race, but his personal story also made it a special occasion. The Belgian lost his father two months ago.

On the VAM climb, Vercouillie was the strongest rider in a five-man breakaway group, which was given space in wet Drenthe by Visma | Lease a Bike, the team of general classification leader Victor Campenaerts. On the former landfill site, the Belgian outperformed his fellow escapees and was thus rewarded for his efforts: he has already covered an incredible number of kilometers on the attack this season.

At the finish line, Vercouillie raised his finger toward the sky after losing his father to cancer two months ago. “I wanted to go for the early breakaway today because, given the cobblestones and the weather, that was the best move.”

"During the final round, I had my dad on my mind the whole time. I lost him two months ago," said the Belgian. "That was the only thing I could think about during the final round. So I knew I had to launch a late attack. It was the perfect moment, so I think he’ll be very proud up there."

And so he secured a magnificent and emotional victory. “I’ve been thinking about this a lot all year, because he was sick. It’s been a very emotional year. A few months ago, I also lost a friend in a training accident. Tomorrow is my girlfriend’s birthday, so there are a lot of emotions all at once,” says Vercouillie.

"I still can't believe it. When I looked back 50 meters from the finish line... well, I couldn’t believe it, but I’m incredibly happy,” said Vercoullie. “It was a moment I’d been waiting for so long. To be able to do that now, somehow, for my dad… well, that brings up a lot of emotions.”

After his father’s passing, Vercouillie posted a message addressed to him on social media. “Hey Dad, we knew this moment was coming. We just never thought it would happen so early in our lives. The past year has been filled with incredibly difficult moments. Despite all that hardship, however, by changing our perspective on life, we’ve also been able to find beautiful moments in its place.”

You can look back with pride on your life—far too short, yet filled with so much love. You inspired people, you moved people, and you brought joy to people simply with your smile. You had a way of creating moments like no one else could.

I can’t find the words to describe the immense void you’ve left behind—a void that can never be filled. Over the past year, we’ve seen once again just how much resilience and strength of character you had. All the hardships you endured, clinging to that glimmer of hope for a happy ending.

You weren't just my dad. You were my confidant, my best friend, my pride and joy, my training partner, my rock, the best coach for my time trials, my God!

Once again, on behalf of myself, our family, relatives, friends, and everyone who loves you, I want to thank you so very much for everything you’ve meant to us all, both on and off the track. Thank you a thousand times!!🙏 Hopefully you’ve now found the peace you were looking for, and it’s up to us to continue making you proud!

This is a special victory not only for Vercouillie, but certainly also for Flanders Baloise. The Belgian team will disband after the Eneco Tour because government funding will no longer be available to them starting in 2027.

Vercouillie had already signed with another team: Tarteletto-Isorex. “After falling 200 meters short of victory in the first stage of the Étoile de Bessèges, I was in contact with a World Tour team. It quickly became clear that the team didn’t have enough spots. After that, nothing concrete ever came my way. Teams were full, or I wasn’t good enough, or they were waiting to see what would happen.”

"I didn't wait long and decided to play it safe. I didn't want to take the risk that Tarteletto-Isorex would also be full by the end of October. So for me, it's a step back. But I still hope to get another chance at a higher level," he had already said.